Prior to bariatric surgery, clients opting to utilize medical insurance benefits are often required to undergo a pre-surgical psychological evaluation. This evaluation is required to keep patients safe and ensure the success of surgical intervention. During bariatric pre-surgical psychological evaluation at Northern Colorado Assessment Center, our clinician will talk to you, review your goals, help you understand treatment plans, and ensure your confidence when making the determination to move forward with bariatric surgery.
Most clients who elect to undergo bariatric surgery will be referred to a psychologist for assessment. The purpose of pre-surgical evaluations is to give surgery patients the opportunity to talk through goals and plans with a professional prior to treatment, ensuring they have appropriate expectations. If you’re still trying to determine whether or not bariatric surgery is the right option for you, an evaluation can also help you think through the decision-making process. Many patients considering bariatric surgery think that a history of mental health concerns may mean insurers deny coverage for their bariatric surgery, but this Is not always the case. Assessments in our office are used by insurance plan providers and your surgeon to determine whether or not clients will safely and successfully achieve their weight loss and health goals following surgery.
Depending on your specific situation and past health history, your evaluation may include a number of assessments and a clinical interview. We will begin by asking you to complete a background questionnaire to give our clinician the foundation of knowledge they need to provide appropriate guidance and create an accurate pre-surgical evaluation report. Questionnaires, assessments, and clinical interview will be completed at the same appointment to ensure the process is completed in a timely manner.
Many people think that these conversations are stressful or intimidating, but they can and should be thought of as a relaxed conversation with a professional. To ensure the best and most accurate results of your evaluation, we encourage you to speak openly and honestly during these interviews.
During your clinical interview, you will be asked a number of questions including:
Your clinician’s role during pre-surgical bariatric evaluation is three-fold. They collect information, educate you about emotional stress and risks, and help you address concerns that arise during evaluation and plan to cope with concerns that may arise after treatment. After your pre-surgical clinical interview, you will likely need to complete additional assessments that help us to better understand your thought process, goals, and areas of strength and struggle before you undergo surgery. The assessments are offered as a set of rating scales, asking you to thoughtfully consider your experience and rate your emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses to specific situations associated with surgery. The results of your assessments and clinical interviews will be compiled as a report for your insurer and surgeon. For more information about our evaluations in Fort Collins, CO, contact us.
We understand that recent news coverage around government tracking of autism diagnoses may be concerning. Please know that your privacy is our top priority. Under HIPAA, your health information – including any diagnoses – is fully protected. There have been no changes to privacy laws, and we are not required to report autism or any other diagnoses to the government. We will continue to safeguard your personal information with the highest standards of confidentiality and care.
If any changes to the law occur, we will immediately communicate with our clients and advocate on your behalf. In the meantime, your trust and privacy remain secure with us.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us directly. We are here for you.
