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St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way has been named a Bariatric
Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for
Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) in recognition of its experience and
favorable outcomes in weight-loss surgery.
“We are very proud to receive this designation from the largest
society for the specialty of surgical weight-loss,” said Syd
Bersante, chief operating officer for St. Francis. “This special
recognition acknowledges the high-quality care that is the
hallmark of our program.”
More than 1,600 surgical weight-loss procedures have been
performed at St. Francis Hospital since 2000, more than any
other hospital in Washington. The hospital’s surgeons perform a
full range of procedures, including gastric bypass and the
adjustable, reversible gastric band (LapBand) procedure.
“We believe that the ASBS Centers of Excellence program can
serve as a catalyst that drives strong programs to get even
better,” said Janelle Morissette, a registered nurse and manager
of the Northwest Center for Weight Management at St. Francis.
“We are doing our part to make sure that our patients receive
the best care and enjoy the best outcomes.”
To earn the prestigious Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence
designation, St. Francis Hospital underwent a site inspection
during which all aspects of its bariatric surgery processes were
examined and health-outcomes information reviewed.
Obesity is a major national health issue. The U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention reports that 65 percent of U.S.
adults are either overweight or obese. Only individuals
considered morbidly obese (more than 100 pounds over their
optimum weight) -- and those dealing with debilitating health
problems associated with being overweight -- are candidates for
weight-loss surgery.
“Bariatric surgery is a very effective therapy for morbid
obesity and its complications,” said Ms. Morissette, who has
managed the Northwest Center for Weight Management at St.
Francis since 2004. “A variety of surgical procedures can result
in full remission of many health problems related to being
overweight, including diabetes, stress incontinence,
infertility, asthma and high blood pressure.”
“Still, weight-loss surgery is not a quick fix and is most
effective when paired with lifestyle changes such as diet and
exercise,” she added. “We also work with our patients to help
them address emotional or psychological issues that may have
contributed to their being overweight.”
According to a national study released in July 2005 by the
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of
weight-loss surgeries in the nation more than quadrupled between
1998 and 2002 – from 13,386 to 71,733. Faced with clinical
evidence that the most experienced and best-run surgery programs
have the fewest complications, the ASBS Bariatric Surgery
Centers of Excellence program was created to recognize
facilities that perform well and to help surgeons and hospitals
continue improving the quality and safety of care.
Surgical Review Corp. (SRC) establishes the rigorous standards
with which St. Francis Hospital and other Bariatric Surgery
Centers of Excellence must comply. SRC also conducts the Centers
of Excellence program for the American Society for Bariatric
Surgery (www.asbs.org), the professional organization which
strives to advance the art and science of weight-loss surgery.
In addition to its Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence
designation, St. Francis Hospital has been named among the
nation’s Top 100 hospitals during five of the past six years
based on an independent evaluation of clinical outcomes,
financial performance and other criteria by Solucient, a
healthcare research company.
The 110-bed hospital is a part of the Franciscan Health System,
which also includes St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, St.
Clare Hospital in Lakewood, and a network of primary-care and
specialty-care clinics throughout Pierce and South King
counties.
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