St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital Achieves National Accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program

St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital Achieves National Accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program Bryan, TX, April 30, 2018—CHI St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital has been reaccredited as a Bariatric Center of Excellence, through a nationally-accredited program, signaling that the program meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care. 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), issued the re-accreditation, which lasts for three years. 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. “This accreditation communicates to our patients that we promote a uniform practice and quality care,” said Dr. John Mason, surgeon with St. Joseph Health Bariatric Surgery. “We take excellent care of our patients, adhering to best practice and strict standards in bariatric care.” St. Joseph Health’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. The health system seeks continuous improvement to enhance the structure, process and outcomes of the bariatric center. To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Regional Hospital met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity. The bariatric center 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. After submitting an application, centers seeking MBSAQIP Accreditation undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon, who reviews the center's structure, process, and clinical outcomes data. 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. 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. About St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital MBSAQIP-accredited since 2015, St. Joseph Health Bariatric Surgery offers patients access to a variety of surgical weight loss options, including gastric bypass, gastric sleeve and ReShape balloon, a new option for adults who do not qualify for weight-loss surgery.