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Saint Barnabas Medical Center Receives Designation Livingston, N.J.--Saint Barnabas Medical Center has been named an American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence (BSCOE). The ASBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of exceptional patient outcomes in bariatric surgery. “Saint Barnabas Medical Center received the designation for the maximum three-year term, reserved for applicants who exceed the requirements for full approval,” reports Ronald Chamberlain, M.D., MPA, FACS, Chairman of the Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. To earn a Center of Excellence designation, the Medical Center underwent a site inspection during which all aspects of the program’s surgical processes were closely examined and data on health outcomes was collected. “Our outstanding quality of care, low complication rate and high level of surgical experience distinguish our bariatric surgery program,” says Michael Nusbaum, M.D., F.A.C.S., Chief of Bariatric Surgery at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. A Rigorous Process for Designation “Surgeons reviewed by ASBS must have performed enough successful cases to merit the designation,” says Dr. Nusbaum. “It is a comprehensive assessment and an honor to have our program recognized.” According to a study released in July 2005 by the Agency for Healthcare Research, the number of U.S. bariatric surgeries quadrupled between 1998 and 2002—from 13,286 to 71,733. Faced with clinical evidence that the most experienced bariatric surgery programs have the lowest rates of complications, the ASBS Centers of Excellence Program was created to recognize bariatric surgery centers of high quality. A Comprehensive Approach The two main surgical procedures for obesity are laparoscopic banding and gastric bypass surgery. In gastric bypass surgery, the size of the stomach is reduced. The Lap Band is an implanted device that restricts the amount of food a person needs to feel full. Both of these minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures have been performed with excellent results over the past six years at the Medical Center. In addition to the surgery, Saint Barnabas offers a comprehensive approach to weight loss, which was factored into the analysis by the ASBS. “We provide a full complement of services that support patients before, during and after surgery,” explains Dr. Nusbaum. “You have to have a life-long commitment to the weight-loss process and we provide the resources patients need for a successful long-term outcome.” The Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence partners with The Obesity and Weight Management Center, located at the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center, to provide support programs. The Obesity Center was developed to assist with lifestyle management before and following gastric bypass surgery. Individualized treatment plans include: nutrition counseling, supervised exercise programs monitored by exercise physiologists, psychotherapy, support group participation, and integrative therapies such as acupuncture, massage and hypnosis. For more information, please call the Obesity and Weight Management Center at (973) 322-7007.
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