Atlantic General Bariatric Center Achieves National Accreditation

Eastern Shore’s Atlantic General Bariatric Center meets all criteria as a Center of Excellence according to national quality standards established to deliver safe, high quality bariatric patient care.

Berlin, Md. -- Patients seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving treatment at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care on the Eastern Shore.

Atlantic General Hospital today announced Atlantic General Bariatric Center has been accredited as a Center of Excellence under 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, outlined in the Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2014 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.

“We’re very honored to have received this designation. Our team is very deserving of this accolade as they strive each day to provide patients with the level of quality care they deserve in a safe, caring environment,” commented Dr. Alae Zarif, Medical Director of Surgical Services at Atlantic General Bariatric Center.

Atlantic General Bariatric Center’s commitment to quality care begins with appropriately trained staff and the leadership of surgeons who participate in meetings throughout the year to review its outcomes. They seek continuous improvement to enhance the structure, process and outcomes of the center.

To earn the MBSAQIP designation, the bariatric center met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity. The 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. The standards are specified in the MBSAQIPResources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2014, published by the ACS and ASMBS.

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. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), more than one-third (34.9% or 78.6 million) of U.S. adults are obese. 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 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.

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*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.

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About Atlantic General Hospital

Atlantic General Hospital has been providing quality health care to the residents of Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset (Md.) and Sussex (Del.) Counties since May 1993. Built by the commitment and generosity of a dedicated community, the hospital’s state-of-the-art facility in Berlin, Md. combines old-fashioned personal attention with the latest in technology and services. Atlantic General Health System, its network of more than 25 primary care provider and specialist offices, care for residents and visitors throughout the region. For more information about Atlantic General Hospital, visit www.atlanticgeneral.org.

About Atlantic General Bariatric Center

Atlantic General Bariatric Center is the only hospital-based bariatric center on the Eastern Shore with both surgical and non-surgical weight loss options. The center meets all criteria as a Center of Excellence according to national quality standards established to deliver safe, high quality bariatric patient care. Atlantic General Bariatric Center services include non-surgical medical weight-loss plans, advanced surgical techniques, including gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy, comprehensive medical evaluation, dietary monitoring and support, pre- and post-operative counseling and resources, as well as an online patient support group.
To learn more about their programs please contact 410-641-9568 or visit http://www.atlanticgeneral.org/Physician-Offices-Clinics/Atlantic-General-Bariatric-Center.aspx.

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.