Frequently asked questions.

Bring your photo ID, insurance card, current medication list, and any records related to the concern you are seeing us about. Helpful records can include endoscopy reports, imaging, pathology results, hospital discharge papers, and prior surgery notes. If you do not have everything, keep the appointment. Our team can help request records when needed.

You may schedule a consultation directly with our office. Whether your insurance plan requires a referral for coverage depends on the plan. If you have an HMO or are unsure, call us with your insurance information and our team can explain the next step. Do not delay reaching out while you sort out the referral process.

It depends on the condition and procedure being considered. Testing may include blood work, imaging, endoscopy, reflux monitoring, a barium swallow, or esophageal manometry. Each test is selected to answer a specific question about the diagnosis, anatomy, or safety of the treatment plan. Your team will explain what is needed and why.

Surgery is considered only after your diagnosis, symptoms, test results, health history, and goals have been reviewed together. Some people benefit from medicine, monitoring, nutrition changes, or another procedure instead. A consultation is a chance to understand the options, expected benefits, limitations, and risks before deciding whether surgery fits your situation.

Call the office if you have pain that is getting worse rather than better, a fever, repeated vomiting, trouble staying hydrated, new drainage or spreading redness at an incision, or another symptom that concerns you. Seek emergency care for severe chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, uncontrolled bleeding, or other urgent symptoms. When in doubt, contact the care team for guidance.

Recovery time depends on the procedure, whether it is minimally invasive or open, your overall health, and the type of work or activity you need to return to. Your surgeon will give you procedure-specific guidance about diet, walking, lifting, driving, medications, and follow-up. Healing does not follow the same timetable for everyone, so use your care team’s instructions as your guide.

Some plans require prior authorization before certain tests or procedures. When authorization is needed, our team will tell you what information is required and coordinate the requested clinical documentation. Authorization is determined by the insurer, and timing can vary. If an authorization is delayed or denied, contact the office so the team can review the available next steps with you.

We work with many insurance plans, but coverage and network participation can vary. Contact the office with your insurance card information before your visit. Our team can verify benefits and explain what information is available before you move forward. Final coverage decisions are made by your insurer and depend on your specific plan.

NorCal Integrity Surgery evaluates and treats a range of abdominal, foregut, and digestive conditions. Common areas include GERD and hiatal hernia, swallowing disorders, gallbladder disease, groin and abdominal-wall hernias, and selected esophageal or stomach conditions. Explore the Conditions and Symptoms pages, or contact the office if you are unsure whether your concern fits our practice.

Dr. Dunn personally reviews surgical consultations and discusses the treatment plan with each patient. The broader clinical team also helps with scheduling, insurance questions, pre-operative planning, recovery instructions, and communication. The goal is clear coordination, with a specialist-led plan that reflects your individual diagnosis and needs.