Certifications

American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the world.  It is a non-profit organization developed to increase awareness about morbid obesity and bariatric surgery.  For more information on the ASMBS, visit www.asmbs.org.

The Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the safety, efficacy, and efficiency of bariatric and metabolic surgery, and related healthcare.  For more information, visit www.surgicalreview.org.

The ASMBS and the SRC launched the Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence (BSCOE) program in 2004.  It is the world’s largest center of excellence program for the specialty of bariatrics.  Earning and maintaining the BSCOE designation keeps facilities focused on important aspects of patient care, including superior care delivery and long term patient education and support.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction 

BCBS Blue Distinction recognizes facilities that meet objective, evidence-based thresholds for clinical quality.  Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery offer comprehensive bariatric surgery services, including in-patient care, post-operative care, follow-up care and extensive patient education, which demonstrate their commitment to quality care.  To maintain designation as a Blue Distinction Center, facilities must reapply for re-designation.  This process promotes ongoing improvement of overall quality of care.  Detailed selection criteria are available at www.BCBC.com/bluedistinction.

OptumHealth 

OptumHealth, along with a panel of multidisciplinary specialty physicians, has developed criteria upon which facilities are evaluated for inclusion in OptumHealth’s Centers of Excellence network.  Health care providers are evaluated against benchmark criteria such as volume of procedures, outcomes including mortality and complication rates, Medicare certification, Joint Commission accreditation, patient education.