MT. VERNON, IL — Crossroads Community Hospital announced today that its bariatric surgery center 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 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.

“The certification by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program validates the work that we have been doing to help patients lose weight and recognizes our commitment to excellence in providing our patients with the highest quality of care,” says Gregory Dalencourt, MD, and MBS DIRECTOR. “You can be confident when you start your journey at Journey Weight Loss.”

(Dalencourt)

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.

Crossroads Community Hospital’s commitment to quality care begins with trained staff and the leadership of an experienced bariatric surgeon. The program utilizes the continuous review of surgical data to provide safe and high-quality care to all metabolic and bariatric patients.

“The Comprehensive Center accreditation is not an easily obtained distinction and shows the hard work, dedication, and outstanding effort to provide consistent, high-quality care to the southern Illinois Community,” says William Davis, CEO of Crossroads Community Hospital. “I’m proud of Dr. Dalencourt and the medical staff for their commitment to providing excellent care.”

(Davis)

To earn MBSAQIP Accreditation, Crossroads Community Hospital 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.

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.

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 18.