FRANCISCAN HEALTH SYSTEM NEWS & INFORMATION

Aug. 16, 2007

St. Francis Hospital’s weight loss surgery program earns accreditation

American College of Surgeons recognizes quality
of Federal Way hospital’s bariatric program


St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, a leading provider of weight loss surgery in the state, announced today that its acclaimed bariatric program for the severely obese has been accredited by the American College of Surgeons.

Accreditation by the prestigious American College of Surgeons’ Bariatric Surgery Center Network is further confirmation of St. Francis’ commitment to providing the highest quality care for patients who undergo weight loss surgery.

“Excellence in the surgical and post-surgical care of our patients is the hallmark of our bariatric program,” said Syd Bersante, chief operating officer at St. Francis Hospital.

More than 2,400 weight loss surgeries have been performed at the hospital in the last seven years.

Accreditation by the American College of Surgeons’ Bariatric Surgery Center Network means that St. Francis provides the hospital-based resources necessary for optimal care of morbidly obese patients, as well as the resources necessary to address the entire spectrum of care and needs of bariatric patients, from the pre-hospital phase through the post-operative care and treatment process. As part of the accreditation process, the hospital’s bariatric program underwent an extensive review that included an on-site visit by an independent surgeon who examined the program’s structure, processes, and its quality of data and performance measures.

“We strive every day to make sure that our patients receive the best care and experience the best outcomes,” said Janelle Morissette, a registered nurse and manager of the St. Francis Center for Weight Management.
 
This acknowledgement of the surgery program’s quality is the latest in a series of special recognitions: In 2005, St. Francis Hospital was designated as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic Bariatric Surgery; earlier this year, the hospital was declared a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery by Premera Blue Cross and Regence BlueShield. The St. Francis program is the only one in Washington currently recognized for excellence by both the Society for Bariatric Surgery and the College of Surgeons.

An estimated 11 million people in the U.S. suffer from severe obesity, which increases their risks for Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and other life-threatening health problems. Weight loss surgery provides the only effective, lasting relief from severe obesity.

Founded in 1913, the American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons whose goal is to raise the standards for surgical education and practice, and improve the care of surgical patients. It has more than 69,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. Additional information is online at www.facs.org

St. Francis Hospital, which is licensed for 110 beds, is a part of the Franciscan Health System, the pre-eminent health care provider in the South Puget Sound region.
 

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Franciscan Health System includes St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood, St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way; Enumclaw Regional Hospital in Enumclaw; St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor (opens in 2009); Franciscan Medical Group (a network of primary care and specialty care clinics and physicians); and Franciscan Hospice House in University Place. In addition to medical, surgical and emergency care, the Franciscan organization is the leading provider of cardiac and surgical weight loss services in the South Puget Sound region. Franciscan has received the 2007 Washington State Quality Award in recognition of its high quality and performance excellence. Franciscan is affiliated with Catholic Health Initiatives, one of the nation’s largest non-profit health care systems. Franciscan website: www.FHShealth.org

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