Weight loss program earns national accreditation

Designation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program® recognizes high standards for patient safety and quality

The Center for Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery at University Medical Center has earned national accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®).

To earn accreditation, University Medical Center met essential criteria for staffing, training, facility infrastructure, and patient care pathways, ensuring its ability to support patients with obesity. University Medical Center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its surgical outcomes and identifying opportunities for quality improvement.

MBSAQIP is a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Its standards ensure that metabolic and bariatric patients receive multidisciplinary medical care, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. MBSAQIP-Accredited centers offer preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for patients with obesity.

“Helping our patients achieve their weight loss goals is our team’s highest priority,” said Dr. Michael Cook, Medical Director of the Center for Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery. “This accreditation underscores our commitment to providing exceptional care right here in our community for people with obesity and related conditions.”

University Medical Center’s commitment to quality care begins with expertly trained staff and the leadership of an experienced bariatric surgeon. The program is tasked with continuous review of surgical data as they continue improving the structure and outcomes expertise necessary to provide safe, efficacious, and high-quality care to all metabolic and bariatric patients.

After applying for MBSAQIP Accreditation, centers undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviews the center's structure, processes, and clinical outcomes data. Centers that earn accreditation are awarded a specific designation level, depending on how many patients it serves annually, critical care capabilities, the types of procedures provided, and whether it provides care to patients under the age of 18.

The Center for Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery received Comprehensive Center designation, which signifies its ability to provide optimal patient care before, during, and after bariatric surgery.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 93 million adults in the United States are affected by obesity and that number continues to increase. The disease of obesity increases the risks of morbidity and mortality because of the diseases and conditions that are commonly associated with it, such as type II diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, among other health risks.

To learn more about the Center for Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery, visit umcno.org/weightloss.

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