Center for Comprehensive Weight Management & Bariatric Surgery

About Center for Comprehensive Weight Management & Bariatric Surgery

What is the weight management center at Southwoods Health?

This is the weight management and bariatric surgery practice within Southwoods Health, a group that is locally owned and operated by the Muransky family and area physicians. Its main work is medical and surgical weight loss. It is based in Boardman, Ohio, and its physicians also list Calcutta, Columbiana and Howland among their locations. Four prescribers are listed. Brandon Dessecker, MD and Joseph Martin, MD are listed for general surgery and bariatric medicine. Aneta Homer, MD is listed for primary care, internal medicine and obesity medicine. Bridget Mikula, CNP is listed for metabolic weight management.

The center offers four services: nutrition services with registered dietitians, a weight loss surgery program, medical weight management through obesity medicine physicians, and a nurse navigator. It is accredited under MBSAQIP, a joint quality program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. It has a Google rating of 5 from one review. It does not name the weight loss medications it prescribes. Its GLP-1 blog post names Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro as examples of the drug class, which is not the same as saying those are used here. In its own words: "Our obesity medicine physicians work closely with you to develop personalized weight loss plans that address both medical and individual needs."

What does it cost?

It does not publish prices or a consultation fee. It also does not say whether it accepts insurance, whether medication is included in any program fee, or what its membership and cancellation terms are. Call 234-287-6440 and ask for the cost of the first visit, the monthly cost of the program if there is one, and whether medication is billed on top of that. If you plan to pay with HSA funds or financing, ask whether either is accepted.

What should you ask before you book?

Start with the referral. A physician referral is required for this service, so ask whether your own doctor needs to send one first, and whether the center can help if you do not have one. Ask who writes your prescription and who manages your care over time. Ask which weight loss medications the center prescribes, and whether they are brand-name or compounded. Ask whether medication is part of the program fee.

Ask what follow-up visits and lab work cost, and whether any visits can be done by video or phone, since that is not stated. Ask how candidacy is decided, since the program uses body mass index. Finally, ask how you cancel and whether you pay anything for leaving early.

Who is it a good fit for?

This is a good fit if you have a physician referral or can get one, and you want medical or surgical weight loss care under one practice name. If you need prices, medication terms and cancellation rules in writing before you commit, get those answers first.

Sources: southwoodshealth.com/comprehensive-weight-management-bariatric-surgery, southwoodshealth.com/comprehensive-weight-management-bariatric-surgery/nurse-navigator

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