Good Samaritan Bariatric Surgery

Restore your health and regain confidence with a proven long-term weight-loss solution. The weight loss surgery team at Good Samaritan Medical Center is ready to guide you on your journey to a healthier and more active life.

If you’re 100 pounds or more overweight you may be a candidate for medical weight-loss. The reasons are more than cosmetic. People who are more than 30 percent over their ideal weight often experience serious medical problems, such as heart disease and diabetes, and may be at increased risk for certain cancers.

Good Samaritan Medical Center’s Bariatric and Metabolic Institute has Achieved Accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program®

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 South Florida. Good Samaritan Medical Center’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.

The commitment to quality care begins with expertly trained staff and the leadership of experienced bariatric surgeons. The program is tasked with continuous review of surgical data to ensure the highest quality care is provided to all metabolic and bariatric patients.

To earn MBSAQIP Accreditation, Good Samaritan Medical Center 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.

After applying for MBSAQIP Accreditation, centers undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviews the center's structure, processes, and clinical outcomes data. Centers that earn accreditation are awarded a specific designation level, depending on how many patients it serves annually, critical care capabilities, the types of procedures provided, and whether it provides care to patients under the age of 18.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 93 million adults in the United States are affected by obesity and that number continues to increase. The disease of 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.

*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.

Lose the bad stuff that comes with the weight, too

Depression, high blood pressure and risk of diabetes are some of the most common health issues associated with obesity. Infertility, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis could also complicate your health as well. Surgical weight loss may reduce your weight, but it can also potentially treat these symptoms or future health risks.

Weight loss surgery is generally designed for those with a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 40, or equal to or greater than 35 with serious co-morbidities. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is also FDA-approved for weight loss surgery in people with a BMI of 30 to 35 who have at least one obesity-related condition. Weight loss surgery is considered safe, but like many types of surgery, it does have risks. Consult with your physician about the risks and benefits of weight loss surgery.

Learn more about the Good Samaritan Medical Center’s Surgical Weight Loss Program. Contact our Bariatric Clinical Program Coordinator, Shannon Follwell, RN, CBN, at 561-650-6216 or email [email protected] for more information on the procedure.

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