Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s 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 and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

 

The accreditation recognizes that Houston Methodist Sugar Land meets or exceeds the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care in bariatric surgery, which includes a number of related procedures designed to help people battling obesity to lose weight and improve their overall health.

 

In recent years, bariatric surgery has emerged as the leading treatment for patients suffering from severe obesity, a rapidly growing problem in the U.S. The National Institutes of Health estimates that there are approximately 15.5 million Americans who are considered severely obese, with a body mass index of at least 35.

 

“Obesity is a significant health issue for many people, because of the life-threatening diseases and conditions that it often leads to, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases,” said Nabil Tariq, M.D., board-certified surgeon specializing in bariatric surgery at Houston Methodist Surgical Associates. “Many of these individuals could be helped with bariatric surgery, which makes it possible for them to lose weight safely and effectively and ultimately, dramatically lowers their risk for related health issues.”

 

The MBSAQIP accreditation was based on an in-depth review of Houston Methodist Sugar Land’s staffing, training, facility infrastructure and protocols for care to ensure its ability to support patients with severe obesity. The assessment included an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon, who reviewed the hospital’s patient care processes and clinical outcomes data.

 

“Our team is committed to ensuring that bariatric surgical patients receive multidisciplinary care, not just a surgical procedure,” said Chris Siebenaler, regional senior VP and CEO of Houston Methodist Sugar Land. “Our proven program of preoperative education and postoperative care improves patient outcomes and supports long-term success. This designation by MBSAQIP is a result of our team’s hard work and dedication.”

 

To learn more about bariatric surgery at Houston Methodist Sugar Land, go to houstonmethodist.org/weight-management/weight-loss-surgery. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Tariq, call 281.764.6770.