Miriam Hospital Recognized for High-Quality Care in Bariatric Surgery

Monday, February 07, 2011

GoLocalProv Health Team

More than half of all adults in the U.S. are considered overweight or obese, and the numbers continue to rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 39 percent of Rhode Islanders are considered overweight and another 22 percent are considered obese. Obesity is closely linked with a number of serious health complications, such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Bariatric surgery, when performed correctly, can help obese patients manage these conditions. Just recently though, The Miriam Hospital it has been named an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence®. The designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of excellence in providing superior and comprehensive bariatric surgery care.

Achieving Long-Term Weight Loss

“Many obese patients have tried to lose weight and keep it off with strict diet and exercise regimens but have been unsuccessful, and in the meantime they struggle with obesity-related health complications, like high blood pressure or diabetes,” said Siva Vithiananthan, M.D., chief of minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at The Miriam Hospital. “In some cases of severe obesity, bariatric surgery is the only proven method of achieving long-term weight control. But it is still surgery, and it’s important for bariatric surgery candidates to know that the hospital performing the procedure has been recognized nationally for optimal performance and successful patient outcomes.”

Success for the Future

The Miriam Hospital’s bariatric surgery program, which launched in 2007, offers comprehensive and compassionate care for individuals who are seeking a surgical solution for weight control. The program provides a full range of bariatric care services to support patients throughout the entire process, including a thorough preoperative evaluation, free patient support groups, pre- and post-operative counseling and a long-term follow-up plan to help patients commit to the lifestyle changes needed to achieve and maintain successful results. The program at The Miriam Hospital provides laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and gastric banding procedures to treat obesity by limiting the capacity for food intake. The Miriam Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital, which has previously been designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence designation, perform more than 350 bariatric surgeries a year–more than any other facility in Rhode Island.

For more information on The Miriam Hospital’s bariatric surgery program or to enroll in the next monthly bariatric patient information seminar, call 793-3922 or visit www.lifespan.org/tmh/services/surgery/bariatric.