The American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Center of Excellence designation has recognized surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery. According to a study released in July 2005 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of U.S. bariatric surgeries more than quadrupled between 1998 and 2002 - from 13,386 to 71,733. 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.

To earn a Center of Excellence designation, our hospitals 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. Our hospital and other centers receiving the Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence designation agree to continue to share information on clinical pathways, protocols and outcomes data.

Our designation as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence is a testament to our highly skilled and experienced team of individuals at MyWTlossSurgeon Associates and our partnered hospitals who are dedicated to improving the health of our community. We will continue to enhance our services and provide our patients with the gold standard for comprehensive bariatric care.

Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an organization dedicated to pursuing surgical excellence, formulates and establishes the rigorous standards with which all 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 64 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.

As a pioneering organization, designating Centers of Excellence based on top quality care and efficacious outcomes, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, with the help of SRC, is working to align the common interests of patients, surgeons, hospitals and insurers, all of whom suffer when complications develop after surgical care.

Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence requirements

• Institutional commitment to care of bariatric patients
• Institutions providing 125 bariatric cases per year
• Designated medical director of bariatric surgery
• Complement staff of consultative services
• Equipment and instruments for care of morbidly obese
• Surgeons spending significant time of practice in bariatric surgery
• Standardized perioperative care and surgical procedures
• Dedicated nursing care of bariatric population
• Bariatric patient support group
• Evidence of long-term follow-up