Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence

Based on St. Joseph Hospital's demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) has named St. Joseph Hospital a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence.

In a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of bariatric surgeries grew from 16,000 procedures in 1992 to 170,000 performed in 2005. Faced with clinical evidence that the most experienced and best-run bariatric surgery programs have by far the lowest rates of complications, the ASMBS Centers of Excellence program was created to recognize bariatric surgery centers that perform well and to help surgeons and hospitals continue to improve the quality and safety of care provided.

To earn the Bariatric Center of Excellence designation in June 2009, St. Joseph Hospital underwent a series of site inspections in 2008 examining all aspects of the program's surgical processes and data collected on health outcomes. Hospitals receiving the designation agree to continue to share information on clinical pathways, protocols and outcomes data.

The ASMBS Center of Excellence designation is recognized by leading quality organizations as well as major health insurers, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 66 percent of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Morbid obesity closely correlates to a number of serious conditions undermining the health of patients, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Bariatric surgery, when performed correctly, can help obese patients manage these conditions.

The Bariatric Surgery Program at St. Joseph Hospital utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to successful long-term weight loss using the expertise of the surgeons, program coordinator, psychiatrists, registered dietitian, physical therapists, exercise physiologist, meditation/spirituality specialist, acute-care surgical and post-op staff, and surgical office personnel. The surgeons at the Bariatric Surgery Program at St. Joseph Hospital have been trained by some of the foremost physicians in the field. Almost 100% of our bariatric surgeries are done laparoscopically using the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB) technique.

Anyone who is considering bariatric surgery is invited to attend an informational seminar, "Weight Loss Surgery: Is It Right For You?" For details, please click here.