;)I hope to be approved by BC/BS to travel from Massachusetts to see Dr. Steinberg in Ca. He has spoken with my doctor in Boston and has agreed to evaluate me and treat me.
My question is this. For anyone who has traveled to from the east coast to west, what was the length of time you were there. How long did it take to get into see him.  After evaluation how long before any surgery was given. Did you stay in the California area after surgery and if so for how long. How many times have you had to travel back again.
Dr. Steinberg has already seen all the tests done in Boston as well as the report of by Left side bypass done in 2009. Now I need the right side done (which I could have here), but I also have a complication with the watershed area, center of the brain also having a blockage and the location is where no Doctor around here wants to touch. My original surgeon is no longer in the area otherwise I would be seeing him. Any help would be very much appreciated.

When my son had his surgeries, we had everything scheduled before heading out there.  He had a week of testing---even though he had already had the tests done locally, so you may want to plan on that.  We saw Dr. Steinberg the following Monday morning.  His first surgery was the middle of that week.  The second surgery the week after that, with a one week post-op visit following that second surgery.  After that appointment, we were free to leave. 

His surgeries were done in April and we returned in December (which was a little late due to insurance issues) for a follow-up appointment.  At that appointment, they determine when you will need to return.  We have three years, which I understood to be the norm.

I wish you well.  You will be in great hands!

Thanks for the response. Sounds like your son is doing well. We were kind of figuring most likely a months stay there. May I ask where you stayed. Or did you have family or friends out there?

We don't know anybody out there.  We stayed at the Stanford Guest House for the first week.  We couldn't stay longer because they were booked for a convention or something.  After that we went to a hotel.

I am on the west coast... but had the similiar timeliness as previously posted.  One week pre-test, meet with Dr. Steinberg on Monday, surgery on Wednesday, 2nd surgery a week later, one week later followup, cleared to go home.  It was about 3 1/2 weeks.  We stayed in apartments that housed Stanford patients... I am not sure if that is an option any longer, but they were across the street and had a shuttle service, quite the blessing.  My surgeries were 16 months ago, we returned six months later and stayed for a week in the same apartments.  The scheduling person has lots of information on housing, hotel discounts, transportation/parking expenses, etc.  Stanford is a busy place, school events like graduations, etc.  PLAN AHEAD!  Best wishes on working out the details!

Thanks for the information. We are still working on Blue Cross/Blue Shield.