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 the greater Clear Lake area.

 

Dr. Kyle Stephens, board-certified bariatric surgeon at Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital today announced its bariatric surgical center has been accredited as a Low Acuity Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

 

The MBSAQIP Standards, outlined in the Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2016, ensure that bariatric surgical patients receive a multidisciplinary program, not just a surgical procedure, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. The accredited hospital offers preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for their severely obese patients.

 

“Bariatric surgery is a life changing decision that can provide numerous health benefits for our patients including improvement (and possible resolution) of diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and cardiovascular disease,” said Stephens.

 

 “Receiving accreditation as a Low Acuity Center recognizes the comprehensive and quality care we provide here at Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital for our bariatric surgery population, and acknowledges that our team of dedicated health professionals truly provides the complete spectrum of care needed for these patients – including extensive pre-operative education, high quality perioperative care and lifelong support post-operatively,”

 

Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital’s commitment to quality care begins with appropriately trained staff and the leadership surgeons who participate in meetings throughout the year to review its outcomes. They seek continuous improvement to enhance the structure, process and outcomes of the hospital.

 

To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity. The hospital also participates 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 2016, published by the ACS and ASMBS.

 

“Having our MBSAQIP accredited bariatric surgery center close to home is a tremendous advantage for patients living in Clear Lake and surrounding areas who are considering weight loss surgery,” said Dan Newman, CEO, Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital. “This nationally recognized designation acknowledges our unparalleled commitment to patient care and safety.”

 

After submitting an application, hospitals seeking MBSAQIP Accreditation undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon, who reviews the center's structure, process and clinical outcomes data. A hospital is awarded a specific designation depending on how many patients it serves annually, the type of procedures it provides, and whether it provides care for patients under age 18.

 

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 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

TheAmerican 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.