Southwest Recognized for High-Quality Bariatric Surgery
11/25/2008
Southwest Recognized for High-Quality Bariatric Surgery
-The ASMBS Designates Southwest as Center of Excellence-
November 26, 2008. Southwest Washington Medical Center announced today that it has been named an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence(r). The ASMBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in Bariatric surgery.
To earn a Center of Excellence designation, Southwest underwent a series of site inspections during which all aspects of the program's surgical processes were closely examined and data on health outcomes was collected. Southwest and other centers receiving the Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence designation agree to continue to share information on clinical pathways, protocols and outcomes data.
'Obesity and morbid obesity has been increasing in our population for many years. We know now that obesity is a multifactor process involving a person's environment, inherited characteristics, and psychological makeup,' said Paul Dally, MD, Pacific Surgical Specialists, a part of Southwest Medical Group. 'Dr. Leslie Cagle and I have established a program for weight control that involves medical, psychological, nutritional, physical therapy, as well as surgical intervention. At Southwest we believe that the ASMBS Centers of Excellence program will serve as a catalyst to make our strong program even better,' added Dr. Dally.
According to a report released in 2007 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of Bariatric surgeries has grown from 16,000 procedures performed 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.
Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an organization dedicated to pursuing surgical excellence, formulates and establishes the rigorous standards with which Southwest and other 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 ASMBS.
Obesity has become a significant national health issue, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that 66 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 ASMBS Center of Excellence designations practice only top-quality care, ensuring efficacy of the procedure with each patient to the best of their abilities.
Center for Weight Management
The Center for Weight Management at Southwest Washington Medical Center provides a full compliment of services and support staff to help you on your journey to sustaining weight loss. As a Center of Excellence for weight loss surgery, our surgeons have been the first to bring advanced procedures to the Northwest. With more than 40 years of service, you can be assured that our team of specialized surgeons, nurses, dietitians, psychologists, and insurance coordinators will help you every step of the way. For more information on the Southwest Weight Loss Surgery program call 360.514.2500.
About American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is the largest society for this specialty in the world. Founded in 1983, foremost American surgeons have formed the society's leadership and have established an excellent organization with educational and support programs for surgeons and allied health professionals. The purpose of the society is to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery by continued encouragement of its members to: pursue investigations in both the clinic and the laboratory; interchange ideas, information and experience pertaining to bariatric surgery; promote guidelines for ethical patient selection and care; develop educational programs for physicians, paramedical persons, and lay people; and promote outcome studies and quality assurance. For more information about ASMBS, please visit www.ASMBS.org.
About Surgical Review Corporation
Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) is an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to surgical excellence. SRC's mission is to promote the delivery of surgical care with the highest levels of efficacy, efficiency, and safety possible. For more information about SRC or to download a Center of Excellence application, please visit www.surgicalreview.org.
