Bariatrics

Having bariatric surgery is a life altering process. It’s easy to get sidelined in your weight loss goals. Scottsdale Healthcare’s Bariatrics program is here to help because we personalize health. We’ll walk you through the entire process and educate you every step of the way on foods to eat, how to avoid pitfalls and what to do to make that life affirming change. You can build relationships with others that have gone through the process with our support groups. We’ll be there to support you even after your surgery. Every bariatric patient receives a full year of follow up visits.

Center of Excellence Designation

The Scottsdale Bariatric Center and Scottsdale Healthcare Shea have achieved recognition as an American Society of Bariatric Surgeons Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery.

The announcement was made by medical director Dr. Robin Blackstone during a celebration of the new Inpatient Bariatric Unit at Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center.

"We are very pleased to be recognized as a Center of Excellence," said Dr. Blackstone. "Working as a team with the nursing and medical staff from Scottsdale Healthcare, we are able to provide patients weight loss surgery in a safe, caring and supportive environment.”

“The American Society of Bariatric Surgery certification process includes an on-site evaluation of all aspects of both the inpatient and outpatient bariatric surgery program,” said Scottsdale Healthcare President & CEO Tom Sadvary. “We are honored that our surgical weight loss program has achieved the ASBS Center of Excellence recognition.”

More than 23 million Americans are morbidly obese, which is defined as having a Body Mass Index of 35 or higher. People who are 75 pounds or more overweight are at risk to develop serious medical problems like diabetes, sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

“The Scottsdale Bariatric Center at Scottsdale Healthcare has taken a leadership position in regards to building a program of excellence in Arizona, in part by reporting all our outcomes to the public as part of the informed consent process. We are pleased to offer the public this level of care and accountability,” added Dr. Blackstone.

Four major areas are evaluated to become an ASBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence:

Safety: All re-operations and major complications are reviewed.

Volume: For the institution and each individual surgeon. Volume of cases has been shown in three separate publications to be a key indicator of quality. A minimal volume standard of 125 cases total and at least 50 per year, with verified outcomes is required for full approval.

Evaluation: The presence of clinical pathways, patient informed consent, adequate equipment to care for large patients and verifying that the specialists that might be needed to help a patient through a complication are available.

Outcomes: Documents patient outcomes including what percentage of patients are actually followed up in the program, the patient’s weight loss and resolution of co-morbid disease are reviewed. To review the designated Centers of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery, visit www.surgicalreview.org.

The hospital and each individual surgeon are evaluated by a team of site visitors who review patient charts and verify the information. Each ASBS Center of Excellence has ongoing evaluation by ASBS on an annual basis.

The ASBS Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery designation has important implications for patients, employers and insurers. Because surgery is the most effective way of addressing the major health problems that plague many Americans, insurers and employers will increasingly be under pressure by the public to provide access to care, said Dr. Blackstone.

For more information on the Scottsdale Healthcare surgical weight loss program, browse these pages, visit www.scottsdalebariatric.com, or call 1-800-504-9567.