UNC Lenoir Bariatric Program Awarded Accreditation
April 13, 2021
Patients in eastern North Carolina 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
UNC Lenoir Health Care’s 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 MBSAQIP ensures 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.
UNC Lenoir Health Care’s commitment to quality care begins with expertly trained staff including two highly qualified bariatric surgeons, Dr. Charles Moore and Dr. Joel Rose. The program continuously monitors surgical data as the bariatric team seeks to provide very safe, high quality care to all patients.
To earn MBSAQIP Accreditation, UNC Lenoir Health Care met essential criteria for staffing, training, facility infrastructure and patient care, ensuring its ability to support patients with obesity. The hospital also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its surgical outcomes and identifies opportunities for quality improvement.
After applying for MBSAQIP Accreditation, UNC Lenoir underwent an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviews the center's structure, processes, and clinical outcomes data. Bariatric centers earn accreditation based on how many patients they serve annually, critical care capabilities, the types of procedures provided, and whether they provide 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. 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.
“Our recent accreditation demonstrates UNC Lenoir Health Care’s commitment to providing high quality care in everything we do”, said Robert Enders, President and CEO at UNC Lenoir Health Care. “We are proud to have achieved this recognition by the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.”
About UNC Lenoir Health Care
UNC Lenoir, licensed for 199 beds, is a nonprofit organization serving the Lenoir County area with acute, outpatient, and community health services. The hospital has a 114 year history of providing excellent care to the community. In addition to general medical, surgical, and obstetrical and gynecological care, UNC Lenoir offers specialized services including cardiology, pulmonology, oncology, radiology and urology. Surgical specialties include general, orthopedic and bariatric with a staff trained to take special care during recovery. UNC Lenoir affiliated with the UNC Health Care System in 2017. UNC Health is an integrated health care system based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and is comprised of UNC Hospitals and its provider network, UNC Faculty Physicians and UNC Physicians Network
About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the quality of care for surgical patients. Its achievements have placed it at the forefront of American surgery and have made the College an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 82,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.
About the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 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. The ASMBS is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about metabolic and bariatric surgery, including the associated risks and benefits, as a treatment option for obesity.
