Center for Bariatric Medicine and Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center Achieves National Re-Accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program

The Center for Bariatric Medicine and Surgery at Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center was recently re-accredited as a Comprehensive Bariatric Center 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).

“This re-accreditation demonstrates our commitment to providing our patients with the most innovative weight loss surgery options along with focused, personalized care and comprehensive support services,” said Hans J. Schmidt, M.D., FACS, chief, Division of Bariatric Surgery, and director, Center for Bariatric Medicine and Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center.  “Our multidisciplinary team, including dieticians, counselors, surgeons, advanced practice providers and nurses support patients before, during and after their procedures to maximize long-term success.  We also partner with the HackensackUMC Fitness and Wellness Center powered by the Giants to provide exercise programs tailored to our patient population.”

The Center for Bariatric Medicine and Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center was first accredited as a Comprehensive Bariatric Center in 2006, making this the fourth re-accreditation.

”The Center for Bariatric Medicine and Surgery is one of the nation’s leading programs,” said Mark D. Sparta, FACHE, president and chief hospital executive, Hackensack University Medical Center, executive vice president, Population Health, Hackensack Meridian Health.  “Our board-certified surgeons provide state-of-the-art treatment options to manage obesity and achieve outstanding results that exceed the national benchmarks. The Comprehensive Bariatric Center re-accreditation affirms the high-level of care our bariatric patients receive when they choose Hackensack University Medical Center.”

The MBSAQIP Standards, outlined in the Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2016 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, as well as medical options for weight loss.

After submitting an application, 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. Centers are awarded a specific designation depending on how many patients it serves annually, the type of procedures it provides, and whether it provides care for patients under age 18.

To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Hackensack University Medical 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 MBSAQIP Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2016, published by the ACS and ASMBS.

“The Center for Bariatric Medicine and Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center performs almost 1,000 procedures annually, making it one of the highest volume weight loss surgery centers in the United States,” said Massimo M. Napolitano, M.D., FACS, vice chair, Department of Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center. "Having performed the first laparoscopic gastric bypass in New Jersey in 1999, the Center has since performed more than 10,000 bariatric procedures. The surgical program is combined with a multidisciplinary medical program to provide patients with comprehensive care before and after surgery to help them achieve their weight loss goals, maintain their health and well-being and keep the weight off.”

Hackensack Meridian Health boasts four other hospitals with designations from the Comprehensive Bariatric Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), including: Mountainside Hospital, Raritan Bay Medical Center Old Bridge, Southern Ocean Medical Center and Bayshore Medical Center.

According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 20 million Americans suffer from morbid obesity, making it one of the leading medical problems facing the country today. 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 comorbid 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.