USA Health Providence Hospital achieves national accreditation for bariatric surgery
Providence is now one of 11 facilities in Alabama to be accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program.
By Carol McPhail
cmcphail@health.southalabama.edu
Patients seeking surgical treatment for obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving care at USA Health Providence Bariatrics, which recently achieved national accreditation for meeting the highest standards for patient safety and quality.
Providence is now one of 11 facilities in Alabama to be accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, a joint quality program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
“This accreditation affirms our commitment to excellence in the care of patients suffering with obesity. We take our obligations to our patients seriously and never stop trying to be the best we can be,” said Danuel Laan, M.D., FACS, director of metabolic and bariatric surgery at Providence Hospital. “By partnering with the American College of Surgeons, we are able to access resources for our patients that we wouldn’t be able to if we didn’t go through this rigorous accreditation. To us, the needs of the patients and the community will always come first.”
To earn national accreditation, Providence Hospital met essential criteria for staffing, training, facility infrastructure and patient care pathways, ensuring its ability to support patients with obesity. It also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its surgical outcomes and opportunities for quality improvement.
“We are so proud of the team that has worked so hard to achieve this impressive accreditation,” said Todd Kennedy, Providence Hospital chief executive officer. “It speaks volumes about our dedication to patient quality and safety.”
After applying, facilities undergo a site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviews the center’s structure, processes and clinical outcomes data.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 93 million adults in the United States are affected by obesity. The disease of obesity increases the risks of morbidity and mortality because of the diseases and conditions commonly associated with it, such as type II diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, among other health risks.
About USA Health Providence Hospital
Part of USA Health, the academic health system for the University of South Alabama, Providence Hospital is a full-service, 349-bed hospital providing 24/7 emergency care and a level III trauma center, as well as exceptional birthing services, surgical procedures and specialty care.
About the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery 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.
