St. Mary Medical Center Named Blue Distinction Center+ for Bariatric Surgery

blue distinction plus bariatricsSt. Mary Medical Center has been designated a Blue Distinction Center+ for Bariatric Surgery for its gastric stapling program by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Blue Distinction Centers® are part of a national designation program that recognizes facilities demonstrating expertise in delivering quality specialty care safely and effectively.

Receiving a Blue Distinction Center+ designation indicates St. Mary Medical Center’s Healthy 4 Life bariatric program meets quality-focused criteria emphasizing patient safety and outcomes, as well as cost of care measures. Guiding principles for the selection process were determined by a collaboration of physician experts and medical organizations, including the American College of Surgeons (ACS), American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), and the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). The criteria requires that the hospital have an established, active bariatric surgery program, an experienced bariatric surgery team, an acute care inpatient facility, full accreditation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and a comprehensive quality management program.

“This designation highlights Healthy 4 Life’s history of excellence in outcomes for patients undergoing weight loss surgery,” said Janice Ryba, CEO, St. Mary Medical Center. “We are pleased that the efforts of our skilled bariatric team have received recognition from such a respected panel of experts.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults in the United States are obese. Those who are obese are at an increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and certain cancers. In 2013, more than 179,000 Americans opted for bariatric surgery to further weight loss and improve overall health, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

“There is a need to address the increasing prevalence of obesity and improve the quality of life for residents in our communities,” said Bariatric Surgeon Paul Stanish, MD, medical director of Healthy 4 Life. “Receiving the Blue Distinction Center+ designation highlights our successful efforts in combating obesity through the highly individualized treatment options Healthy 4 Life provides.”

For more information on Healthy 4 Life and other services at St. Mary Medical Center, visit comhs.org/stmary.