Edgewood, KY – St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center Surgical Program has achieved three-year re-accreditation 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). Surveyors were highly complimentary of the program based at St. Elizabeth Florence, noting impressive strengths:

• A strong, multidisciplinary Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Committee with a collaborative process.
• Dietary and psychological program components highly regarded and empowered.
• Good direction and utilization of consulting physicians.
• Impressive leadership from Medical Director Ryan Moon, MD.

“The Weight Management Center and bariatric surgical team is to be congratulated on this impressive achievement,” said Robert Prichard, MD, CEO and President, St. Elizabeth Physicians. “We recognize the issue of obesity contributes to the health of our community, and the Weight Management Center is one of the cornerstones of our strategy to achieve our vision of leading Northern Kentucky to become one of the healthiest communities in America.” Dr. Moon added, “With this accreditation, the quality of our bariatric surgical program, physicians, and staff has been recognized and affirmed.”

Kentucky ranks eighth worst in the nation for obesity, which is a contributing factor for significant health issues including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. In Kentucky, more than one-third of the population is considered medically obese.

Weight loss surgery has demonstrated specific medical benefits for patients beyond just weight loss. Patients at St. Elizabeth show significant improvements in health measures based on data collected from patients after surgery over a seven-year period:

• 62.9% of patients with type-2 diabetes were off medication.
• 49.4% of patients with high blood pressure were off medication.
• 38.9% of patients with high cholesterol were off medication.
• 58.3% of patients with sleep apnea no longer required treatment.
• 15.2% of patients with GERD had symptom resolution and were off medication.

For more information about the Surgical Weight Loss program at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center, visit stedocs.com/weightmanagement, or call 859-212-GOAL (4625).