Cabell Huntington Hospital’s Center for Surgical Weight Control named Center of Excellence by OptumHealth

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Cabell Huntington Hospital (CHH), a member of Marshall Health Network, is proud to announce that its Center for Surgical Weight Control has been named a Center of Excellence (COE) for bariatric surgery by the Clinical Sciences Institute of Optum®. This marks the 11th time since 2011 that CHH has received this prestigious recognition.

Blaine Nease, MD, FACS, Marshall Health bariatric surgeon and associate professor at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, speaks with a patient at the Cabell Huntington Hospital Center for Surgical Weight Control.

A COE designation is awarded to medical practices that deliver top-quality clinical care combined with excellent patient support, resulting in better patient outcomes. Optum Centers of Excellence are reviewed annually and are recognized for providing clinically superior, cost-effective healthcare based on criteria such as fewer patient complications and readmissions.

Hospitals within the Optum COE program, such as CHH, perform more successful bariatric procedures than many other nearby facilities and offer:

• A 15% lower mortality rate compared to non-COE providers
• A 16% lower inpatient hospital readmission rate
• A 12% lower reoperation rate for bariatric proceduresLower average cost per surgical episode

"We are honored to receive this recognition from OptumHealth," said Tim Martin, COO of Cabell Huntington Hospital. "This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of our entire team. We are proud to provide access to excellence in bariatric care and remain committed to helping our patients achieve their health goals."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 42% of U.S. adults aged 20 years and older are obese, and about 9% are extremely obese. Obesity increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, digestive diseases, orthopedic disorders, and certain cancers, contributing to more than 300,000 preventable deaths annually in the United States.

Bariatric surgery can be an effective solution to reduce the long-term health effects of obesity. For more information about weight loss and bariatric surgery options at CHH, please call 304.399.4118.