Hospital Earns National Accreditation for Bariatric Surgery

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., March 9, 2017 Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center has been accredited as a Comprehensive Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) for surgical treatment of severe obesity and its related conditions.

In addition, Dr. Christian Birkedal, a general surgeon and the Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center medical director of bariatric services, was recognized as a verified bariatric surgeon through MBSAQIP for the 293-bed Daytona Beach hospital.

Bariatrics is the branch of medicine that studies and treats obesity. This new designation means that Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Centers nationally accredited program meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality care for the surgical treatments of severe obesity and its related conditions.

In the U.S., around 15.5 million people suffer from severe obesity, and the numbers continue to rise, said Birkedal. Obesity is a serious health concern, as it 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, and cardiovascular disease. Metabolic and bariatric surgical procedures have proven to be effective in reducing the comorbid conditions related to severe obesity.

As a joint program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the MBSAQIP accredits bariatric surgery centers that have undergone an independent and rigorous peer evaluation in accordance with nationally recognized bariatric surgical standards.

The MBSAQIP Standards, outlined in the Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2014, improves patient outcomes and long-term success by ensuring that bariatric surgical patients receive a multidisciplinary program, not just a surgical procedure. Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Centers accredited center offers preoperative and postoperative care, designed specifically for severely obese patients.

To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center met stringent criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity.

The hospital 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, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center underwent an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon, who reviewed the programs structure, process, and clinical outcomes data.

This is an important achievement for our community because it shows Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center's dedication and hard work to be a top bariatric program. This designation recognizes that we provide excellent care to our bariatric patients and have excellent outcomes, as measured by the governing body for bariatric surgery, Birkedal said. Obesity is a major medical problem, costing billions of dollars annually and causing hundreds of thousands of premature deaths. Our comprehensive bariatric program can help people lose weight and regain their health.

About Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center

Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center is a member of Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization with 46 hospital campuses and nearly 8,200 licensed beds in 10 states. Our locations include Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach and Florida Hospital Oceanside in Ormond Beach, as well as outpatient facilities in Port Orange, Daytona Beach Shores and New Smyrna Beach. With 293-beds, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center is one of the six Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties that composes the Florida Hospital East Florida Region. As the largest hospital system in the area, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region has 923 beds and more than 6,000 employees. With a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region collectively contributed nearly $120 million in benefits in 2015 to the underprivileged, the community's overall health and wellness and spiritual needs, and capital improvements. For more information about Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center, visit www.floridahospitalmemorial.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 American 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.