Patients seeking surgical treatment for obesity and its related conditions continue to have a high-quality choice for receiving care at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality in the greater Johnstown, Windber, and surrounding areas.
Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Director at Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber Taesun Moon, DO announced that the hospital’s bariatric surgical center has been re-accredited as a Comprehensive Center by 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).
The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, ensure that metabolic and bariatric patients receive multidisciplinary medical care, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. MBSAQIP-Accredited centers offer preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for patients with obesity.
Dr. Moon stated, “We are proud of the care we have been providing for our bariatric patients for over decade. As a team, we are committed to providing optimal quality care to all patients within our program. We strive to meet patients’ satisfaction and to continue to improve upon our high standards.”
Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber’s commitment to quality care begins with expertly trained staff and the leadership of experienced bariatric surgeons. The program is tasked with continuous review of surgical data as they continue improving the structure and outcomes expertise necessary to provide safe, efficacious, and high-quality care to all metabolic and bariatric patients.
To earn MBSAQIP Accreditation, CSSMCW met essential criteria for staffing, training, facility infrastructure and patient care pathways, ensuring its ability to support patients with obesity. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its surgical outcomes and identifying opportunities for quality improvement. The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, are published by the ACS and the ASMBS.
Vice President of Nursing Sherri Spinos acknowledged, “We’re proud to earn this prestigious designation for the fifth time. Accreditation is an important way for patients to verify that a program has access to all the key resources necessary for optimal care, and we are proud to be acknowledged by the MBSAQIP for our excellence at Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber.”
After applying for MBSAQIP Accreditation, centers undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviews the center’s structure, processes, and clinical outcomes data. Centers that earn accreditation are awarded a specific designation level, depending on how many patients it serves annually, critical care capabilities, the types of procedures provided, and whether it provides care to patients under the age of 18.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 93 million adults in the United States are affected by obesity and that number continues to increase. The disease of 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, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, among other health risks. Metabolic and bariatric surgery has proven to be effective in the reduction of comorbid conditions related to obesity.* Working together, the ACS and the ASMBS have developed accreditation standards for metabolic and bariatric surgery to assist patients with obesity in identifying centers that provide optimal patient care.
________________________
*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.
Pictured L to R: Gretchen Ramach, RN, BSN, Metabolic and Bariatric Coordinator and Clinical Reviewer; Taesun Moon, DO, FACOS, FASMBS, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Director; Tameka Scott, DO, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeon; Molly Vargo, MSN, CRNP, AGACNP-BC, CBN, Surgical Associates & Bariatrics Nurse Practitioner; and Pam Rose, RDN, LDN, Registered Dietitian.
About Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber
Founded in 1906, Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber (CSSMCW) is an independent, non-profit acute care hospital in northern Somerset County, bordering Cambria County. The 54-bed hospital shares a campus and collaborates with Chan Soon-Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine at Windber (CSSIMMW), a private, non-profit biomedical research center. With more than 450 employees, CSSMCW is the fourth largest employer in Somerset County. CSSMCW’s mission is to provide excellence in personalized, quality health care services through innovation, research and education in response to community needs. For more information visit www.windbercare.org.
About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the quality of care for surgical patients. 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 82,000 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 (ASMBS) is the largest organization for metabolic and bariatric surgeons in the world, with more than 4,200 members. It is a not-for-profit organization that works to advance the science of metabolic and bariatric surgery. The ASMBS is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about metabolic and bariatric surgery, including the associated risks and benefits, as a treatment option for obesity.