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Bariatric Center Receives National Accreditation

The University of Tennessee Medical Center announced that University Bariatric Center has been re-accredited for the third time as a comprehensive 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).

"Our center has a strong team, and together we are able to address the complex needs of people with the disease of obesity," said Gregory Mancini, MD, medical director for the University Bariatric Center. "Our multidisciplinary team consists of surgeons, dietitians, exercise specialists and health educators that that provide compassionate care with pre-surgery counseling, nutritional education, after-surgery information, and counseling. As a team, we seek continuous improvement to enhance the structure, process and outcomes of our center."

The MBSAQIP Standards, outlined in the Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2014 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.

To earn the MBSAQIP designation, the University Bariatric 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 2014, published by the ACS and ASMBS.

Posted October 3, 2016