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Debbie... I live in L.A. and haven't heard a word about the USC School of Medicine was doing pallidotomies (which only means I haven't heard about it, not whether they're doing a good or bad job performance-wise). I'll be happy to ask at my next support group meeting if anyone's got direct knowledge about USC's performing pallidotomies and see if there's any opinions on the skill-level of their neurosurgery staff if they indeed actually DO pallidotomies. I'll post any responses to my question asking if anyone knows if Kaiser's pallidotomy patients are having the surgery performed at USC and paid for by Kaiser or not here on the List. I am also a member of Kaiser Woodland Hills and when I saw the neuro there he never said a word to me about pallidotomies being done at SC for Kaiser patients. When we discussed pallidotomies he DID mention the procedure was being done at a Kaiser facility up north. This discussion took place last September so it's entirely possible things have changed at Kaiser since then and that might be why the neuro hadn't mentioned the surgery being done locally. Finally Debbie.... please tell mom I live in the L.A. area and would be happy to speak with her if she has any questions 'bout the surgery as I've already had a unilateral pallidotomy. Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] ---------- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange on behalf of [log in to unmask] Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 1997 7:21 PM To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN Subject: USC pallidotomies My mom has been going to have a pallidotomy through Kaiser, up in San Rafael CA. After 3 pre-op appointments Kaiser stepped in and decided to move the program to Sacramento. Every since, back in Sept., they haven't gotten the new place together or started scheduling. Well, today, we found out Kaiser will pay to have the surgery at USC, which is in LA where my mom lives. Also she has been seeing Dr. Waters there, sporadically, out of her own pocket, due to the lack of a specialist at her Kaiser in Woodland HIlls. So now we try to get an appt at USC and find out about the program there and whether they will take her. She and my dad are very excited and anxious to get the surgery. I am the more cautious one who wants to know everything. So I would like to ask the group if anyone had their pallidotomy at USC, knows anything about the program there, or anything else that might be helpful. Thank you all in advance and a very happy holiday season to all, Debbie [log in to unmask]