Center for Surgical Weight Control Receives Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence Designation
Last updated: 07/28/2006
Cabell Huntington Hospital's Center for Surgical Weight Control has been named an American Society of Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) Center of Excellence. The ASBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes bariatric surgical programs that have demonstrated a commitment to providing ongoing excellence in patient care by continuously working to improve patient outcomes in bariatric surgery.
According to a study released in July 2005 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of bariatric surgeries in the United States more than quadrupled between 1998 and 2002 ? from 13,386 to 71,733. Faced with clinical evidence that the most experienced and best-run bariatric surgery programs have, by far, the lowest rates of complications, the ASBS Centers of Excellence program was created to improve the quality and safety of care provided.
To earn a Center of Excellence designation, Cabell Huntington Hospital's Center for Surgical Weight Control underwent an in-depth application process and site inspection during which all aspects of the program's surgical processes were closely examined. Cabell Huntington and other centers receiving the Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence designation agree to continue to share information on clinical pathways, patient care protocols and outcomes data so that excellence can be maintained on a national basis.
The Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an organization dedicated to pursuing surgical excellence, formulates and establishes the rigorous standards with which all Centers of Excellence must comply, thoroughly inspects and evaluates each candidate for designation, and upon review recommends approval of designation for those physicians and facilities whose practices and outcomes meet the stringent demands set forth by SRC for ASBS.
"Bariatric surgery is a complex and challenging undertaking," said D. Blaine Nease, MD, Medical Director of Center for Surgical Weight Control. "People who have experienced the health issues associated with morbid obesity who are considering gastric bypass surgery should have their surgery at a designated ASBS Center of Excellence. Bariatric Centers of Excellence have opened themselves up to intense scrutiny and must meet, or exceed, national standards of care on an ongoing basis. In fact, many insurance companies across the nation, including Medicare, are covering the surgery only if it is performed by a designated center of excellence."
Obesity has become a significant national health issue, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that 64 percent of all U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Morbid obesity is closely correlated with a number of serious conditions that severely undermine the health of overweight patients, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Bariatric surgery, when performed correctly, can help obese patients manage these conditions. By definition, surgeons with ASBS Center of Excellence designations practice only top-quality care, ensuring efficacy of the procedure with each patient to the best of their abilities. At Cabell Huntington Hospital, Nease and his staff demonstrate their willingness to take the extra step by providing patients with someone who can walk them through each step of the bariatric surgery process. From the initial call for information, the staff's main focus is to meet the individual needs of every patient and to assist them in obtaining the information they need to determine if bariatric surgery is the right choice for their current health status and future weight loss needs.
The Center for Surgical Weight Control at Cabell Huntington Hospital opened in 2002. Patients interested in more information about the program may call (304) 526-6097 locally, or toll-free at 1-877-WLS-CENTER, or visit the Surgical Weight Control section of this website. For a complete listing of ASBS Centers of Excellence, visit the Surgical Review Corporation website.