Bariatric

• Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence
• Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery
• Aetna Institute for Quality for Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence

AMH's Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (IMBS) has been named an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence®. The ASMBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery.

To earn a Center of Excellence designation, the Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery underwent a series of site inspections during which all aspects of the program's surgical processes were closely examined and data on health outcomes were collected. IMBS and other centers receiving the Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence designation agree to continue to share information on clinical pathways, protocols and outcomes data.

Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an organization dedicated to pursuing surgical excellence, formulates and establishes the rigorous standards with which IMBS and other Centers of Excellence must comply. It thoroughly inspects and evaluates each candidate for designation, and upon review, recommends approval of designation for those physicians and facilities whose practices and outcomes meet the stringent demands set forth by SRC for ASMBS.

Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery

Independence Blue Cross has announced Abington Memorial Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery. To date, only 221 facilities nationwide have received a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery designation.

Blue Distinction® is a designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare. The designation is based on rigorous, evidence-based selection criteria established in collaboration with leading clinicians, medical societies and professional organizations.

AMH met numerous selection criteria thresholds necessary to be named as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery, including: offering a full-service inpatient hospital facility; being fully accredited by The Joint Commission or Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program; performing a required volume of bariatric surgeries during the recent 12-month reporting period; being staffed by an experienced and appropriately credentialed bariatric surgical team; being supported by appropriate equipment and staffing; establishing documented policies and procedures for patient care and follow-up care; demonstrating a commitment to quality improvement, as shown by its ongoing quality management and improvement programs.

"It is a great honor for our team to receive Blue Distinction status, and to be recognized for our work in bariatric surgery," says, Fernando B. Bonanni, Jr., M.D., director, Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. "We are dedicated to providing our patients with a high-quality comprehensive approach to weight loss that features a full range of services, including several of the latest surgical options, ongoing support and counseling, an exercise program, a nutrition plan and a lifetime of follow up care."

Aetna Institute for Quality for Bariatric Surgery

Abington Memorial Hospital's Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has been designated an Institute for Quality® for Bariatric Surgery from Aetna Institutes for Quality®. The IMBS was selected to receive this accreditation based on an evaluation of clinical performance and the overall value of the facility.