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Middle Tennessee Medical Center announced that its Bariatric Center has been named an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence®. This designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery. In addition, the Bariatric Center’s surgeons, Drs. Wayne Westmoreland and George Eckles, have been designated as ASMBS Bariatric Center of Excellence Surgeons. “By definition, hospitals and surgeons with ASMBS Center of Excellence designation practice top quality care and have passed a rigorous evaluation process,” said Dr. Wayne Westmoreland, bariatric surgeon at MTMC. “This process involves a huge degree of commitment from all levels of the organization including our bariatric team of surgeons, nurses, dietitians and medical staff. These tough standards ensure that patients receive optimal, safe care resulting in the best outcomes.” To qualify for designation as an ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence, the MTMC Bariatric Center participated in an evaluation process designed to document its comprehensive program and meet the established program requirements for providing safe bariatric surgical care with excellent short- and long-term outcomes. The evaluation not only documents process, including equipment, supplies, training of surgeons and staff and the availability of consultant services, but also emphasizes results. “This recognition reflects the Bariatric Center's commitment to quality and demonstrated performance over the past years,” said Ryan Simpson, vice president of operations at MTMC. “As an accredited Center of Excellence, MTMC will be able to serve more patients. Some insurance companies, including Medicare, require patients to receive bariatric surgery from a Center of Excellence. We are very excited to be able to reach more people with this life changing service.” Since opening in January 2005, the Bariatric Center has performed nearly 500 procedures. In April 2009, Dr. Westmoreland became the first surgeon in Tennessee to complete a single-incision Lap-Band procedure, which is less invasive and involves shorter recovery times. A staff of surgeons, nurses, dieticians, exercise physiologists, psychologists and insurance specialist are available to guide all patients through all levels of care, including post surgery. The MTMC Bariatric Center offers comprehensive weight loss surgery programs such as Lap-Band, an inflatable prosthetic device that is placed around the top portion of the stomach to decrease stomach size, gastric bypass, a procedure that divides the stomach into a small upper pouch separating it from the larger portion of the stomach and sleeve gastrectomy, a surgical procedure that reduces the size of the stomach to a third of its original capacity, creating a feeling of fullness. For more information about weight loss surgery procedures and MTMC’s Bariatric Center call 615-396-4965 or visit www.mtmc.org/bariatrics. About American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is the largest society for this specialty in the world. Founded in 1983, foremost American surgeons have formed the society’s leadership and have established an excellent organization with educational and support programs for surgeons and allied health professionals. The purpose of the society is to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery by continued encouragement of its members to: pursue investigations in both the clinic and the laboratory; interchange ideas, information and experience pertaining to bariatric surgery; promote guidelines for ethical patient selection and care; develop educational programs for physicians, paramedical persons, and lay people; and promote outcome studies and quality assurance. For more information about ASMBS, go to ASMBS.org. About Middle Tennessee Medical Center Saint Thomas Health Services is a faith-based ministry with more than 6,500 associates serving Middle Tennessee. Saint Thomas Health Services’ regional health system consists of four hospitals – Baptist and Saint Thomas in Nashville, Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro and Hickman Community Hospital in Centerville – and a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures in diagnostics, cardiac services and ambulatory surgery as well as medical practices, the Center for Spinal Surgery, clinics and rehabilitation facilities. STHS is a member of Ascension Health, a Catholic organization that is the largest not-for-profit health system in the United States. For more information, visit www.sths.com. |
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