HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood is proud to be recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas with a Blue Distinction® Centers+ for Bariatric Surgery designation as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities committed to delivering high-quality patient safety and better health outcomes based on objective measures developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.
The Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery programs provide a full range of bariatric surgery care, including surgical care, post-operative care, outpatient follow-up care and patient education.
Bariatric surgeries are among the most common elective surgeries in the U.S. — with more than 252,000 bariatric surgeries performed in 2018 based on a report from the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 43 percent of U.S. adults and 19 percent of youth are obese and impacted by obesity-related health issues. With obesity reaching epidemic levels among U.S. adults, a significant opportunity exists to improve quality care for bariatric surgeries within the national healthcare system.
To receive a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Bariatric Surgery designation, a healthcare facility must demonstrate success in meeting patient safety measures as well as bariatric-specific quality measures, including complication and readmission rate for laparoscopic procedures in sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and adjustable gastric band. All designated facilities must also be nationally accredited at both the facility and bariatric program-specific levels and demonstrate cost-efficiency compared to their peers. Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers+ are, on average, 20 percent more cost-efficient in an episode of care in comparison to other facilities.
“I am extremely proud of the excellent team we have assembled in our weight loss surgery program,” said John Corbeil, HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood CEO. “Our bariatric team and surgeons work diligently to ensure all patients receive high-quality, safe, personalized care. We are thrilled to receive this designation as it further demonstrates the hospital’s ongoing commitment to quality care.”
For more information about the program and for a complete listing of designated facilities, visit the Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction website.