NEW Nationally Certified Center

WVMC Weight Loss Surgery Achieves National Accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program

Patients seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving treatment at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care in the greater Yamhill Valley area. That choice is Willamette Valley Medical Center’s Weight Loss Surgery program.

Guillermo Higa, MD, FACS, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Director at Willamette Valley Medical Center (WVMC) announced its bariatric surgical center has been accredited as a Comprehensive Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

The MBSAQIP Standards, outlined in the Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2014 ensure that bariatric surgical patients receive a multidisciplinary program, not just a surgical procedure, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. The accredited center offers preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for their severely obese patients.

 “Having bariatric surgery is not an easy decision to make. Patients fear failure and complications. The structure of our program before, during, and after surgery is what sets us apart from other programs.” Dr. Higa, Bariatric surgeon said.

The WVMC Weight Loss Center quality care begins with appropriately trained staff and the leadership surgeons who participate in meetings throughout the year to review its outcomes.  They seek continuous improvement to enhance the structure, process and outcomes of the center. Before surgery takes place, the patient will have been working with Dr. Higa and the weight loss surgery team for 3-6 months already. The patient completes multiple consultations, medical examinations, and also meets with psychologists, dieticians, and support groups to be better prepared and educated on the new way of life they are embarking on.

Dr. Higa said, “The road to success is long which makes certain that the patient is dedicated to working toward their weight loss goals in the safest most effective manner. The procedure itself is very safe because my team and I use state of the art technology and are expertly trained to take every precaution for quality outcomes. We are changing patient’s lives.”

 To earn the MBSAQIP designation, WVMC met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its processes and outcomes, identifying opportunities for continuous quality improvement. The standards are specified in the MBSAQIP Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2014, published by the ACS and ASMBS.

 After submitting an application, centers seeking MBSAQIP Accreditation undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon, who reviews the center’s structure, process, and clinical outcomes data. Centers are awarded a specific designation depending on how many patients it serves annually, the type of procedures it provides, and whether it provides care for patients under age 18.

 In the United States, around 15.5 million people suffer from severe obesity, according to the National Institutes of Health, and the numbers continue to increase. 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, and cardiovascular disease, among other health risks. Metabolic and bariatric surgical procedures have proven to be effective in the reduction of comorbid conditions related to severe obesity.* Working with ASMBS, the ACS expanded this quality program for bariatric surgery centers so that it can assist bariatric patients in identifying those centers that provide optimal surgical 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.

About Willamette Valley Medical Center Weight Loss Surgery

Located in McMinnville, Oregon, WVMC Weight Loss Surgery is a certified Comprehensive Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The center is run under the Medical directorship of Guillermo Higa, MD, FACS- Bariatric Surgeon of McMinnville Surgical Associates. The program specializes in 3 weight loss surgeries: Adjustable Gastric Band, Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. The center is also certified in non-surgical options: Orbera Gastric Balloon and Bariatric Fusion Vitamins and Supplements. All procedures are done in Willamette Valley Medical Center’s operating rooms using state of the art technology with highly trained staff, nurses, and surgeons. For more information on the program please visit www.WVMCWeightLoss.com