UAB Hospital-Highlands earns prestigious bariatric surgery accreditation

The UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery is proud to announce the recent international accreditation of the bariatric surgery services it provides at UAB Hospital-Highlands.

The accreditation is from the American College of Surgeons Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). With it, UAB Hospital-Highlands joins a group of 1,000 medical centers across the United States and Canada that have undergone rigorous, voluntary reviews to ensure the highest standards of care and quality improvement.

To qualify for this prestigious distinction, the UAB Hospital-Highlands Bariatric Surgery Clinic was required to meet the following criteria:

  • Invest in equipment, room renovations, and personnel training to meet the physical needs of patients with Class III obesity and adhere to the stringent MBSAQIP standards
  • Complete 50 surgical operations over the course of 12 months (starting in July 2022) before applying for accreditation
  • Demonstrate excellence in preoperative education and patient selection, operative outcomes that meet or exceed national standards, and vigorous postoperative follow-up care that encourages a healthy diet and lifestyle
  • After application review by the American College of Surgeons, a program-certified bariatric surgeon spent a day on site inspecting UAB Hospital-Highlands, interviewing the surgeons and staff who care for patients, and reviewing bariatric surgery patient records.

With this certification, UAB Medicine’s bariatric surgery centers at both UAB Hospital and UAB Hospital-Highlands now meet the highest standards for review and patient care.

“With over 40 years of experience in bariatric surgery, our clinical and patient-facing teams are dedicated to providing patients with a pathway to success to achieve their goals, while providing the most advanced and proven care possible,” said Bariatric Surgery Medical Director Richard Stahl, M.D. “This accreditation marks a huge milestone in the development of our community footprint. We want every patient to feel confident in choosing UAB – a fully accredited facility receiving continuous feedback and training to provide the best patient care possible.”

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