Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence earns reaccreditation at Wilmington Hospital
The Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence at Christiana Care Health System has again been fully accredited as a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).
The accreditation process is completed through a joint program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
“Our program meets the most rigorous requirements and provides not only the hospital resources necessary for optimal care of morbidly obese patients, but also the support and resources to address the entire spectrum of care and needs of bariatric patients, from the pre-hospital phase through postoperative care,” Michael B. Peters Jr., M.D., medical director of Christiana Care’s Bariatric Surgery Program. “We meet all standards of care for various weight loss operations, including revision procedures.”
Dr. Peters said that the MBSAQIP physician inspector remarked that he could not recall the last time he saw such a devoted staff and a world-class facility. “As the medical director I could not have been more proud,” he said.
This accreditation demonstrates the commitment of the Christiana Care Bariatric Surgery Program to providing the highest quality care for its patients.
“Patients can expect a multidisciplinary approach in their care that includes surgical, medical and psychological evaluations,” said Kim Tran, R.Ph, MBA, director of the Christiana Care Weight Management Center. “Nutrition and behavior modification education and assessment is also provided. It is this thorough pre-operative process and our commitment to long-term followup that leads to better surgical outcomes and a healthier patient.”
“The Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence recently moved to Christiana Care’s Wilmington Hospital,” said Dr. Peters. “This was an extensive transformation for the program. It involved everyone — administration, architects, designers, engineers, nurses, OR staff, surgeons … the list goes on. Completing construction and developing the infrastructure and staff, transferring the care model from Christiana Hospital to the Wilmington Hospital, took over a year.
“Christiana Care provides patients with a local facility capable of safely handling bariatric patients, surgeries and all their followup needs. There is no need to travel great distances to get this specialized care. Maintaining community-centered care has been a common goal of the surgeons and hospital team throughout the program’s history.”
The National Institutes of Health requirements for bariatric surgery include having a body mass index (BMI) of 40kg/m2 or higher; or 35kg/m2 with significant weight-related, co-morbid conditions including but not limited to diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea. The resolution rates for these conditions are higher with surgical intervention and at the present time bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity.