BMI Surgery and Silver Cross Hospital’s weight loss surgery program recently was awarded an accreditation as a Bariatric Comprehensive Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, a joint program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

As a result of this accreditation, patients seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving treatment at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care in Will County.

Dr. Christopher Joyce, medical director of Silver Cross Hospital's bariatric surgery program, performed the first traditional and laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery as well as the first adjustable gastric band and sleeve gastrectomy procedures in the southwest suburbs.

Since 2003, Joyce and his partner, Dr. Brian Lahmann with BMI Surgery at Silver Cross, have performed over 6,000 weight loss procedures, including laparoscopic gastric bypass and Lap-Band gastric band system.

In addition, BMI Surgery is a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery.

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 longterm success.

The accredited center offers pre-operative and post-operative care designed specifically for severely obese patients.

To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Silver Cross Hospital met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity.

The program 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.

After submitting an application, centers seeking MBSAQIP accreditation undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon, who reviews the program's structure, process, and clinical outcomes data.

A center is 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 younger than age 18.

Free Lecture

To find out more about the bariatric surgery program at Silver Cross Hospital, attend a free informational session on both traditional and laparoscopic surgery on any Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. at BMI Surgery at 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., Suite 260, New Lenox.  Register to attend at www.bmisurgery.org.
 
About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient. 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 80,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.
 
About the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
The merican Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, founded in 1983, was formed to advance the art and science of metabolic and bariatric surgery by continually improving the quality and safety of care and treatment of people with obesity and related diseases through educational and support programs for surgeons and integrated health professionals.