News Releases

Bariatric Surgery Program at Memorial Hermann Designated a "Center of Excellence"

Houston, Texas, November 28, 2005 – The American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) has designated Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center’s Bariatric Program as a “Center of Excellence” in the United States. The Memorial Hermann program is a partnership with the University of Texas Medical School. Surgeons Terry K. Scarborough, M.D., and Erik B. Wilson, M.D., are both assistant professors of surgery at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

The ASBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery. The Memorial Hermann Bariatric Program underwent a series of site inspections during which all aspects of the program’s surgical processes were closely examined and data on health outcomes was collected. ASBS worked with Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) to collect and analyze the data. SRC is not-for-profit corporation dedicated to pursuing surgical excellence and promotes surgical care with the highest levels of efficacy, efficiency and safety. SRC’s Bariatric Surgery Review Committee is made up of experienced surgeons.

“We are very pleased with this designation,” says Juanita Romans, CEO of Memorial Hermann – TMC.  “It speaks well to what we have accomplished and will serve to keep the Memorial Hermann Bariatric Program focused on quality and safety. Bariatric surgery can dramatically improve the quality of life for obese patients, and that’s what we want to keep doing.”

In July 2005, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported that U.S. bariatric surgeries have more than quadrupled from 1998 to 2002, from 13,386 to 71,733. Faced with the clinical evidence that the most experienced and best run bariatric surgery programs have by far the lowest rates of complications, the ASBS Center of excellence program was created to recognize bariatric surgery centers that perform well.

Bariatric surgery includes a variety of operative procedures for morbidly obese patients, who typically have one or more other illnesses including diabetes, asthma, cardiopulmonary failure, infertility and stress incontinence. These co-existing conditions can make bariatric surgery a more complex and challenging undertaking; however, bariatric surgery can help patients manage these other conditions.

At Memorial Hermann - TMC, bariatric surgery utilizes the most advanced technology, including robotic-assisted surgery which allows physicians to operate through tiny incisions. In fact, Memorial Hermann - TMC  has the only program doing four-arm robotic assisted surgery in the country.

The Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) reports that 65 percent of all U.S. adults are overweight, and it is estimated that 23 million Americans are morbidly obese. It is only these morbidly obese patients (with a body mass index of greater than 40) or those with debilitating co-morbidities who are candidates for surgery. Bariatric surgery is not a quick fix, and is most effective when paired with such life-style changes as diet and exercise

For many obese patients, however, surgery is the only effective treatment option. Bariatric surgery national quality benchmarks are mortality rate below 1% and a 15 % complication rate.  The Memorial Hermann program’s quality outcomes exceed such standards at: .003% mortality rate and 5.06% complication rate.

A bariatric surgery Center of Excellence has a support staff of professionals trained to deal with both the physical and emotional needs of the obese patient.

The Memorial Hermann Bariatric Program also hosts educational seminars and support groups at several locations in the greater Houston area.

For more information about bariatric surgery, call Wanda Crider, RN, Bariatric Program coordinator, at 713-704-5823, or visit www.memorialhermann.org/locations/HEbariatrics.html.

For more information, contact Media Relations.