Bingham Memorial’s Weight Loss Center: Nationally Recognized for Highest Standards in Bariatric Surgery
The No. 1 choice for patients throughout eastern Idaho seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions is Bingham Memorial’s Weight Loss Center. Since 2012, they have been the only accredited Bariatric Center of Excellence in eastern Idaho, and they are pleased to announce that they have been nationally recognized for the highest standards in bariatric surgery.
The Bariatric Surgery Program at Bingham Memorial Hospital (BMH) is now designated as a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) Accredited Center – Comprehensive. This means that after a stringent accreditation process, which occurs every two years, the Bariatric Surgery Program at BMH was recognized for meeting the highest standards for delivering safe, high-quality, and proficient bariatric patient care.
Lisa Medvetz, MD, FACS, bariatric, breast, and general surgeon at BMH, made the announcement today. The accreditation as a Comprehensive Center comes from the MBSAQIP, a joint program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
“Everyone worked so hard for this achievement, and we are extremely proud to have received this level of accreditation,” said Dr. Medvetz. “Our program is highly successful because of our dedicated team members who collaborate with one another. While working closely with our patients, and providing them with all of their weight loss options, we assist with the most successful and healthy path for them.”
Bingham Memorial’s Weight Loss Center has a knowledgeable team of insurance authorization specialists, dietitians, nurses, and mental health providers who work in concert with one another to ensure a patient has optimal success in reaching their weight-loss goals. Patients seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving treatment at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care in eastern Idaho.
“Our commitment to quality and compassionate patient-centered care begins with well-trained staff and leadership from surgeons who participate in meetings throughout the year to review outcomes,” said Carolyn Hansen, chief nursing officer and certified bariatric nurse at BMH. “We seek continuous improvement to enhance the structure, process, and outcomes of our weight loss center. We work hard to ensure our patients receive the support and education they need for a successful surgery and combine that with love and compassion after surgery.”
The MBSAQIP Standards ensure that bariatric surgical patients receive a multidisciplinary program, not just a surgical procedure, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. Bingham Memorial’s Weight Loss Center offers preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for their patients who undergo weight-loss surgery.
The surgical team at Bingham Memorial’s Weight Loss Center provides a breadth of surgical weight loss options, including the gastric bypass, duodenal switch, gastric band, and sleeve gastrectomy. They also assist patients who need to convert a lap band to a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass, and they are the first center in the region to perform the all-new intragastric balloon procedure, which is a nonsurgical solution to assist patients in losing and maintaining weight.
To earn this highest level of designation, Bingham Memorial’s Weight Loss Center met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring their ability to support patients with severe obesity. They also participated in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its processes and outcomes, identifying opportunities for continuous quality improvement. The standards are specified in the MBSAQIP Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2014, published by the ACS and ASMBS.
Bingham Memorial’s Weight Loss Center also had to undergo an extensive approval process that included an onsite inspection by an experienced bariatric surgeon, who reviewed the center’s structure, process, and clinical outcomes data. They were awarded the highest level of designation based on how many patients they served annually, the type of procedures they provide, and whether they provide care for patients under age 18.
“We are honored to operate the only Bariatric Center of Excellence in eastern Idaho and to have received the Comprehensive Center Accreditation,” said Jeff Daniels, CEO of BMH. “We strive for the highest level of quality in all we do. This accreditation is evidence of the world-class care individuals will receive from our caring and compassionate staff as they embark on this life-changing journey.”
In the United States, around 15.5 million people suffer from severe obesity, according to the National Institutes of Health, and the numbers continue to increase. 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, and cardiovascular disease, among other health risks. Metabolic and bariatric surgical procedures have proven to be effective in the reduction of comorbid conditions related to severe obesity.* Working with ASMBS, the ACS expanded this quality program for bariatric surgery centers so that it can assist bariatric patients in identifying those centers that provide optimal surgical care.
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*Buchwald H, Avidor Y, Braunwald E, et al. Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2004;292(14):1724-1737. DOI:10.1001/jama.292.14.1724.
About Bingham Memorial Hospital
Bingham Memorial Hospital is a 501(c)3 non-profit critical access hospital located in Blackfoot, Idaho. Bingham Memorial Hospital is committed to the pursuit of excellence in our endeavor to provide a continuum of quality, compassionate, healthcare services for residents and visitors to east Idaho, in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible. They have healthcare facilities in Blackfoot, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Shelley, and Soda Springs, Idaho. For more information, visit binghamhealthcare.org or call (208) 785-4100.
About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient. Its achievements have placed it at the forefront of American surgery and have made the College an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 80,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.
About the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, founded in 1983, was formed to advance the art and science of metabolic and bariatric surgery by continually improving the quality and safety of care and treatment of people with obesity and related diseases through educational and support programs for surgeons and integrated health professionals.
Media Contact:
Mark Baker
Director of Public Relations & Marketing
98 Poplar Street
Blackfoot, ID 83221
208.534-8906 – 208.782.2864 (fax)
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