Patients in southern Nevada and surrounding areas seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions now 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.
Sunrise Hospital and Medical Centers today announced its bariatric surgical program has been accredited as a comprehensive program 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).
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.
Sunrise Hospital’s Bariatric program has a prominent measure for quality in obesity intervention that begins with appropriately trained staff and surgeons providing leadership by convening throughout the year to review bariatric program outcomes. The program seeks continuous improvement to enhance the structure, process and outcomes of the center.
“To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Sunrise Hospital is meeting essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring our ability to support patients with severe obesity,” said Todd P. Sklamberg, CEO of Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. “The Bariatric program 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 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 center offers preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for their severely obese patients.
“Although it may seem that surgery is a quick and easy solution for weight loss, in fact it requires patients to follow a rigorous diet and exercise regimen, before and after the surgery,” said Allan MacIntyre, MD, medical director of Sunrise Hospital’s Bariatric Program. “The Journey through sustainable weight loss must be transformational as it relates to lifestyle choices which will last the rest of the patient’s life.”
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.
After submitting an application, facilities seeking MBSAQIP Accreditation undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon, who reviews the program structure, process and clinical outcomes data. Facilities are 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.
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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 Sunrise Hospital’s Bariatric Program
Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center’s weight loss (bariatric) program takes a comprehensive and sensitive approach to patient care. It includes education, support and surgical services backed by the largest suite of operating rooms in the Las Vegas area including 23 surgical suites and eight dedicated surgical teams. In addition to providing surgical options to weight loss, Sunrise Hospital’s Bariatric program provides a support group to help patients navigate their own weight loss journey
About Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center
As Nevada’s largest acute care facility and Level II Trauma Center, Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center offers high quality, patient-centered healthcare to the residents of southern Nevada, its surrounding region and the millions of visitors that come to Las Vegas. Sunrise Hospital is now home to Nevada’s first and only Joint Commission Accredited Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center. The Heart Center at Sunrise Hospital offers the most advanced cardiac care and features an Accredited Chest Pain Center. In addition to having the busiest Emergency Department in Nevada, Sunrise Hospital is also home to a County-designated STEMI receiving center. Located on the same campus is Sunrise Children’s Hospital, Nevada’s largest, most comprehensive children’s hospital. For more information on Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, visit Sunrise Hospital, follow us on Twitter @SunriseLasVegas and Facebook.
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
The American 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.