CONTACT: Shelby Dunski, communications
612-672-6264
sdunski1@fairview.org

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (January 16, 2006)—The Obesity Surgery Center at University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview was recognized nationally for its high-quality care in bariatric surgery.

The center was recently named a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the  American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS).  The designation by the ASBS, the largest society for this specialty in the world created to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery, recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery. Payors use this designation as an indicator of where they will send patients and reimburse for treatment.

The Obesity Surgery Center, which provides patient-centered care to people interested in achieving significant, long-term weight loss, is also a HealthPartners Preferred Provider and a PreferredOne Center of Excellence due to its exceptional outcomes.

“Our Bariatric Surgery Center,” says Henry Buchwald, M.D., “was the first bariatric surgery center in the midwest and has continued in the tradition of excellent patient care offering the full range of operative procedures performed.” 

The center’s comprehensive services combine all aspects of weight loss, including surgical treatment options, pre-operative testing, education, nutritional counseling, psychological testing and support and monthly support groups. 

“We help people who have significant weight issues and want to lead healthier lives,” says Sayeed Ikramuddin, M.D., director of bariatric surgery at the medical center. “Our program provides surgical options to achieve significant, permanent weight loss. Our patients find that along with weight loss comes resolution or improvement of their weight-associated conditions. The Center of Excellence designation reaffirms what we already know—that we provide a comprehensive, team approach of care with exceptional outcomes.”

To earn the designation, the center completed an application and underwent a site inspection, during which the program’s surgical processes, procedures, patient education, staff credentials, and data on health outcomes were closely examined. Staff interviews and tours of the hospital and clinic facilities verified that the facility and equipment meet the needs of bariatric patients.

Surgical Review Corporation, an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to pursuing surgical excellence, establishes the standards with which centers of excellence must comply, thoroughly inspects and evaluates each candidate for designation and, upon review, recommends approval of designation for those whose outcomes meet the stringent criteria set forth by the SRC and ASBS.

The center's surgeon partners include University of Minnesota Physicians surgeons Drs. Ikramuddin, Buchwald, Todd Kellogg and Raphael Andrade along with Hennepin Faculty Associate surgeon Howard Lederer, M.D.

For more information about the Obesity Surgery Center, located on the University campus, call 612-625-8446. For information about the Riverside campus bariatrics program, call Fairview On Call, 612-672-7272 or 800-824-1953.