Tomball, TX – HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball announced today that its bariatric surgery center has been accredited as a center of excellence by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
Patients seeking surgical treatment for obesity and its related conditions 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 Tomball area.
“This caliber of dedication and high standards of surgical weight loss ensure that bariatric patients receive an optimal level of multidisciplinary medical care, which improves outcomes and long-term success for our patients, "said Rob Marmerstein, CEO at HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball. “Additionally, our patients participate in Redefine Clinical Weight Loss, HCA Houston Healthcare's premier weight loss surgery program, where best practices and the highest commitment to safety remain at the forefront.”
To earn MBSAQIP Accreditation, HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball 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 identifies opportunities for quality improvement. The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, are published by the ACS and the ASMBS.
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. 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 have 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 by 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.