Saint Barnabas Receives Designation
as a Center of Excellence
for Bariatric Surgery

Saint Barnabas Medical Center has been named an American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence (BSCOE). The ASBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of exceptional patient outcomes in bariatric surgery.

“Saint Barnabas Medical Center received the designation for the maximum three-year term, reserved for applicants who exceed the requirements for full approval,” reports Ronald Chamberlain, M.D., MPA, FACS, Chairman of the Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at Saint Barnabas Medical Center.

To earn a Center of Excellence designation, the Medical Center underwent a site inspection during which all aspects of the program’s surgical processes were closely examined and data on health outcomes were collected.

“Our outstanding quality of care, low complication rate and high level of surgical experience distinguish our bariatric surgery program,” says Michael Nusbaum, M.D., F.A.C.S., Chief of the Division of Bariatric Surgery at Saint Barnabas Medical Center.

A RIGOROUS PROCESS FOR DESIGNATION
According to the ASBS, centers are given this designation if they “can demonstrate an ongoing commitment to excellence in the care of bariatric surgical patients at the highest levels of the medical staff.” A facility must also show that it has a program that provides cross-functional team support to bariatric surgery patients.

“Surgeons reviewed by ASBS must have performed enough successful cases to merit the designation,” says Dr. Nusbaum. “It is a comprehensive assessment and an honor to have our program recognized.”

According to a study released in July 2005 by the Agency for Healthcare Research, the number of U.S. bariatric surgeries quadrupled between 1998 and 2002 —from 13,286 to 71,733. Faced with clinical evidence that the most experienced bariatric surgery programs have the lowest rates of complications, the ASBS Centers of Excellence Program was created to recognize bariatric surgery centers of high quality.

A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH
Recognized as a serious disease that compromises quality of life and increases the risk of death, morbid obesity is characterized by individuals having a Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on weight and health, greater than 40 which equates to about 80 pounds overweight for a female and 100 pounds overweight for a male. Severe obesity also can lead to life-threatening diseases including diabetes, hypertension and pulmonary compromise.

The two main surgical procedures for obesity are laparoscopic banding and gastric bypass surgery. In gastric bypass surgery, the size of the stomach is reduced. The Lap Band is an implanted device that restricts the amount of food a person needs to feel full. Both of these minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures have been performed with excellent results over the past six years at the Medical Center.

In addition to the surgery, Saint Barnabas offers a comprehensive approach to weight loss, which was factored into the analysis by the ASBS.

“We provide a full complement of services that support patients before, during and after surgery,” explains Dr. Nusbaum. “You have to have a life-long commitment to the weight-loss process and we provide the resources patients need for a successful long-term outcome.”

The Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence partners with The Obesity and Weight Management Center, located at the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center, to provide support programs. The Obesity Center was developed to assist with lifestyle management before and following gastric bypass surgery. Individualized treatment plans include: nutrition counseling, supervised exercise programs monitored by exercise physiologists, psychotherapy, support group participation, and integrative therapies such as acupuncture, massage and hypnosis.

For more information, please call the Obesity and Weight Management Center at (973) 322-7007, or for surgery at
(973) 325-9779.

A PATIENT’S STORY Michael Nusbaum, M.D., F.A.C.S., Chief of the Division of Bariatric Surgery at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, says that helping patients to lose weight and resume normal activities most people take for granted is “the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.” Many former patients return to speak at Saint Barnabas’ support groups and offer encouragement to those at the beginning of their journey toward permanent weight loss and healthy lifestyle. Pamela Porter underwent bariatric surgery with Dr. Nusbaum in November 2004 and has been so pleased by the results that she speaks about the process with other patients considering surgery. After years of dieting ––even a failed six-month physician- regulated program–– Ms. Porter lost a few pounds only to put even more weight back on. “I always gained more than I lost,” she says. “It was a vicious cycle.” When she reached 334 pounds on her 5 foot 10 inch frame, Ms. Porter’s health began to worsen. She developed sleep apnea and high blood pressure. The decline in her health led her to seek the lifechanging bariatric surgery. Immediately after the surgery, Ms. Porter felt so little pain that she thought the procedure had not been performed. She credits Dr. Nusbaum’s surgical skill and the “fabulous” care she received from the staff. Now weighing a more healthy 182 pounds, Ms. Porter no longer suffers from sleep apnea or high blood pressure and can exercise without discomfort. She is happy to be able to indulge her passion for fashion, especially Manolo Blahniks and other designer heels, with renewed pleasure thanks to the weight loss. Best of all, food is no longer her enemy and she can enjoy an improved lifestyle. “The surgery let me feel full for the first time,” she says. “I’ve never had that feeling before in my life.”