Long distance care

Going the distance, long and short.

At the Surgical Weight Loss Centre, we provide Lap-Band surgery and Gastric Balloon procedures to patients from all provinces and regions of Canada. In an effort to reduce the need to travel, we have adapted our programs to meet the needs of our out-of-province and long distance patients. Some of our staff members are fluent in French, and we welcome French-speaking patients to our clinic.

Telephone consultation

We offer the option of a free telephone consultation with one of our surgeons at your request. Your surgeon will contact you at a mutually convenient time to discuss your current and past medical history so that we may determine whether Lap-Band surgery or a Gastric Balloon procedure would be your best weight loss solution. Our surgeon will also discuss the potential benefits, risks and complications of Lap-Band surgery or Gastric Balloon procedure during the telephone consultation.

We ask that all patients who are interested in a consultation please complete and email, fax or mail the Patient Questionnaire. Your surgeon will review the questionnaire in preparation for the telephone consultation.

When you decide on a procedure

If you choose to proceed with Lap-Band surgery or a Gastric Balloon procedure, a Patient Coordinator will be assigned to assist you with all the necessary arrangements for the procedure. A detailed package of information that contains the necessary pre-operative instructions will be sent to you. Your Patient Coordinator will provide you with telephone or email support during this process.

We ask that you arrive in the Mississauga area at least one day prior to the date of your procedure. If you require hotel accommodation during your stay we suggest the following hotels, which are easily accessible to the clinic and the Trillium Health Centre:

WATERSIDE INN
15 Stavebank Road South
Mississauga, ON L5G 2T2
Tel: 905-891–7770
Toll-free: 877-264-7770
Website: www.watersideinn.ca
reservations@watersideinn.ca

Ask for the Surgical Weight Loss Centre corporate rate of $129 (plus applicable taxes) per night

• Separate living room and kitchen with all appliances and utilities
• Internet in wired, iron and hair-dryers are available
• Includes complimentary continental breakfast
• Business centre available 24 hours a day
• Lake view requested suites are subject to availability (harbor or city views)

Approx. 5 min south of the Surgical Weight Loss Centre

SHERATON TORONTO AIRPORT HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE
801 Dixon Road
Toronto, ON M9W 1J5
Tel: 416-675-6100
Toll-free: 1-800-325-3535
Website: www.sheraton.com/torontoairporthotel

Ask for the Surgical Weight Loss Centre corporate rate of $149.00 (plus applicable taxes) per night

• Includes complimentary parking and Airport Shuttle Service from 4:10am – 2:10am
• Mini refrigerators, iron/ironing board, hair dryer and coffee & tea maker are available
• Amenities include 24 hour fitness and business centre, glass domed sky-lit indoor pool & whirlpool and on-site car rental service
• For an additional $30, guests can upgrade to the Club Lounge which features continental breakfast, beverages, high speed internet access and access to a copier, fax and printer
• Close proximity to Downtown Toronto, Woodbine Racetrack and Casino, Sherway Gardens Shopping Mall and Toronto Congress Centre
• Minutes away from the Toronto Pearson Internal Airport
• Venue & hotel for the 2010 SWLC Symposium

Approx. 15 minutes north of the Surgical Weight Loss Centre

HOLIDAY INN
(QEW & Erin Mills Parkway)
2125 North Sheridan Way
Mississauga, ON L5K 1A3
Tel: 905-855-2000
Toll-free: 877-660-8550
Website: www.holidayinn.com

Ask for the SWLC corporate rate of $119 (plus applicable taxes) per night

• A complimentary full hot breakfast at Gatwick’s restaurant for up to 2 people per room
• Complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access
• Use of our large heated indoor swimming pool, sauna and fitness room
• Complimentary coffee and tea in room
• Hairdryer and iron & ironing board available in room
• Complimentary outdoor parking
• For an additional $20, guests can upgrade to the Executive Floor which features a complimentary continental breakfast, complimentary local calls, upgraded amenities, mini fridge, bottled water, guest bathrobes and a daily newspaper

Approx. 10 min. west of the Surgical Weight Loss Centre

NOVOTEL
(at the Sussex Centre near Square One Shopping Mall)
3670 Hurontario Street
Mississauga, ON L5B 1P3
Tel: 905-896-1000
Toll-free: 1-800-Novotel
Website: www.novotel.com

Ask for the Surgical Weight Loss Centre corporate rate of $128 (plus applicable taxes) per night

• Includes complimentary parking and wireless internet access
• For an additional $20, guests can upgrade to the Executive floor
• Across the street from Ontario’s largest shopping mall Square One
• Close proximity to entertainment district - Playdium, Chapters and Famous Players movie theatre

Approx. 10 min. north of the Surgical Weight Loss Centre

Please be advised that the Surgical Weight Loss Centre does not have a financial relationship with any of the hotels or facilities listed above. The details are provided for information only.

If you plan to stay at a hotel, you must check in to the hotel the day prior to your procedure. When you have your room number, please forward it to your Patient Coordinator.

If you are travelling alone for your Lap-Band surgery or Gastric Balloon procedure

If you choose to come unaccompanied to the Surgical Weight Loss Centre for your procedure we can assist you in making arrangements for a caregiver to remain with you in your hotel room on the night of your procedure. Safety concerns require that you not be alone for the first 24 hours after surgery. If this situation applies to you, please notify your patient coordinator and we will be happy to assist with these arrangements. The provision of a personal care giver service will involve added charges.

Returning home after your Lap-Band surgery or Gastric Balloon procedure

We suggest that as an out-of-province or long distance patient, you remain in the Mississauga/Toronto area for two to three days after your procedure. This gives us the opportunity to ensure there are no problems and that you are comfortable before returning home. If desired, we will arrange a follow-up visit with the surgeon or nurse at the clinic prior to your returning home.

Post-procedure Lap-Band adjustments

The Surgical Weight Loss Centre has developed a network of affiliate physicians and nurses in over 20 cities and towns across Canada. These professionals have been trained by our surgeons to perform Lap-Band adjustments for our patients. This service is designed to make follow-up care more convenient for our long distance patients. All of our patients have the opportunity to return to our clinic in Mississauga for adjustments at no charge if that is desired or convenient.

The Surgical Weight Loss Centre will provide personalized support and follow-up for all of our patients, regardless of where they choose to have the Lap-Band adjusted. Long distance patients are asked to contact the clinic on a regular basis to keep us updated of their progress. If it is determined that an adjustment is necessary, we will contact an affiliate physician or nurse and they will perform the adjustment as directed by our clinic.

Lap-Band affiliates

Our affiliate physicians and nurses function as independent practitioners and will charge the patient directly for their service. The charge for each adjustment is determined by the affiliate, but generally varies between $75 and $150 per visit. This reduces the cost and potential inconvenience of returning to our clinic for adjustments.

We are continuing to train additional affiliates in cities across Canada. We will only recommend physicians and nurses who have received training from our surgeons in order to enhance the safety and effectiveness of the Lap-Band adjustments. For more information on Lap-Band adjustments, click here.

Currently, the Surgical Weight Loss Centre has affiliates trained to perform Lap-Band adjustments for our patients in the following Canadian cities:

	Alberta Calgary Edmonton Ft. McMurray Grande Prairie	British Columbia Fort St. John Kelowna Kitimat Vancouver Victoria	Labrador Labrador City
	Manitoba Virden Winnipeg	New Brunswick Moncton Woodstock	Newfoundland Cornerbrook Gander Labrador City St. John’s
	Northwest Territories Yellowknife	Nova Scotia Coldbrook Halifax	Ontario Geraldton Kingston London North Bay Oshawa Ottawa Sault Ste Marie Sudbury Thorold Thunder Bay Timmins Toronto Windsor
	PEI Charlottetown	Saskatchewan Oxbow Regina Saskatoon	Yukon Territory Whitehorse