Houston Healthcare Achieves National Accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program®

WARNER ROBINS, GA, May 15, 2024 - Patients seeking surgical treatment for obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving care at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality in middle Georgia area.

Houston Healthcare’s Bariatric Surgery Program has been accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, ensure that metabolic and bariatric patients receive multidisciplinary medical care, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. MBSAQIP-Accredited centers offer preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for patients with obesity.

"This accreditation serves as a formal recognition of Houston Healthcare's commitment to delivering quality care and patient safety for individuals undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery," explains Sheldon Mattox, RN, MBA, Director of Post-Surgical Rehabilitations & Education at Houston Healthcare. "Our program works hard to address the needs of those affected by the disease of obesity through high-quality, patient focused care. We take immense pride in being nationally recognized for providing safe and effective treatments within our community."

Houston Healthcare’s commitment to quality care begins with expertly trained staff and the leadership of an experienced bariatric surgeon. The program is tasked with continuous review of surgical data as they continue improving the structure and outcomes expertise necessary to provide safe, efficacious, and high-quality care to all metabolic and bariatric patients.

To earn MBSAQIP Accreditation, Houston Healthcare’s Bariatric Surgery Program met essential criteria for staffing, training, facility infrastructure and patient care pathways, ensuring its ability to support patients with obesity. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its surgical outcomes and identifying opportunities for quality improvement. The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, are published by the ACS and the ASMBS.

In the United States, approximately 93 million adults are affected by obesity, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and that number continues to increase. Obesity increases the risks of morbidity and mortality because of the diseases and conditions that are commonly associated with it, such as type II diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, among other health risks. Metabolic and bariatric surgery has proven to be effective in the reduction of comorbid conditions related to obesity.* Working together, the ACS and the ASMBS have developed accreditation standards for metabolic and bariatric surgery to assist patients with obesity in identifying centers that provide optimal patient care.

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*Buchwald H, Avidor Y, Braunwald E, et al. Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2004;292(14):1724-1737. DOI:10.1001/jama.292.14.1724.

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About Houston Healthcare

Houston Healthcare serves over 300,000 people every year in multiple locations throughout Houston County, Georgia. Our 282 inpatient beds, three urgent care facilities, nine physician practices and numerous ancillary services have one goal—taking care of the people that call Houston County and surrounding communities home. We provide a wide range of services, including: inpatient and outpatient surgery, Maternity and neonatal intensive care, Advanced cardiovascular care, Urgent care, Electronic intensive care units, Advanced imaging services, Psychiatric care, Physical and cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation, Orthopedics and joint replacement, Oncology treatment and 24-hour emergency care. For more information, please visit www.hhc.org.

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the quality of care for surgical patients. 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 82,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

About the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is the largest organization for metabolic and bariatric surgeons in the world, with more than 4,200 members. It is a not-for-profit organization that works to advance the science of metabolic and bariatric surgery. The ASMBS is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about metabolic and bariatric surgery, including the associated risks and benefits, as a treatment option for obesity.