Brandon Regional Hospital Achieves Prestigious Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation
For meeting all national quality standards to deliver safe, high quality metabolic and bariatric patient care
BRANDON, Florida (December 17, 2019) – Patients seeking surgical treatment for obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving care at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality in Tampa Bay.
Dr. Alfredo Fernandez, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Director at Brandon Regional Hospital, announced today that its bariatric surgery center has been accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, ensure that metabolic and bariatric patients receive multidisciplinary medical care, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. MBSAQIP-Accredited centers offer pre-operative and postoperative care designed specifically for patients with obesity.
Brandon Regional Hospital’s Metabolic and Bariatric Center’s commitment to quality care begins with expertly trained staff and the leadership of an experienced bariatric surgeon. The program is tasked with continuous review of surgical data as they continue improving the structure and outcomes expertise necessary to provide safe, efficacious, and high-quality care to all metabolic and bariatric patients.
“Our focus at Brandon Regional Hospital is to provide the best care possible for our patients, by providing compassionate care and high quality programs that meet the needs of our community and the region,” said Dr. Alan Harmatz, Chief Medical Officer. “We extend our congratulations to the physicians, nurses and support team at the Comprehensive Metabolic and Bariatric Center for achieving this prestigious milestone that underscores the care, commitment and skill they provide our community every day, one patient at a time. Great job!”
To earn MBSAQIP Accreditation, Brandon Regional Hospital met essential criteria for staffing, training, facility infrastructure and patient care pathways, ensuring its ability to support patients with obesity. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its surgical outcomes and identifying opportunities for quality improvement. The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, are published by the ACS and the ASMBS.
After applying for MBSAQIP Accreditation, centers undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviews the center’s structure, processes, and clinical outcomes data. Centers that earn accreditation are awarded a specific designation level, depending on how many patients it serves annually, critical care capabilities, the types of procedures provided, and whether it provides care to patients under the age of 18.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 93 million adults in the United States are affected by obesity and that number continues to increase. The disease of 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, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, among other health risks. Metabolic and bariatric surgery has proven to be effective in the reduction of comorbid conditions related to obesity.* Working together, the ACS and the ASMBS have developed accreditation standards for metabolic and bariatric surgery to assist patients with obesity in identifying centers that provide optimal patient 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.
About Brandon Regional Hospital
Brandon Regional Hospital is a 422-bed Statutory Teaching Hospital that is nationally ranked as a Top 100 Hospital by IBM Watson, a U.S. News & World Report High Performing Hospital in COPD and Heart Failure and a Leapfrog Group ‘A’ ranked for patient safety. The hospital offers a number of specialty services including the Heart & Vascular Center, The Pediatric Center, The Women’s Center, which includes the Baby Suites and 22 bed Level III neonatal intensive care unit, and the Comprehensive Metabolic and Bariatric Center. It is part of HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems.
About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the quality of care for surgical patients. 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 82,000 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 (ASMBS) is the largest organization for metabolic and bariatric surgeons in the world, with more than 4,200 members. It is a not-for-profit organization that works to advance the science of metabolic and bariatric surgery. The ASMBS is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about metabolic and bariatric surgery, including the associated risks and benefits, as a treatment option for obesity.