The BlueCross and BlueShield Association has designated Memorial Hospital’s Bariatric Program as a Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery.

Memorial is the only hospital in Chattanooga to receive this recognition. After a highly rigorous process, Blue Distinction Centers designation is awarded by the BlueCross and BlueShield Association companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality health care under objective selection criteria.

Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery have demonstrated their commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for bariatric patients. The designation indicates Memorial Hospital provides a full range of bariatric surgery care services, including inpatient care, post-operative care, outpatient follow-up care and patient education.

“We are pleased to receive this special designation from BlueCross and BlueShield Association,” said Interim Memorial President and CEO Debra L. Moore. “This recognition provides the consumers with a level of confidence about the integrity of our program, expertise of our physicians, and commitment of our staff.”

Memorial's comprehensive surgical weight management program offers patients two of the most common and effective surgical procedures for weight loss -- Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y and the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band. These procedures are effective weight loss tools for those 100 pounds overweight or more.

The criteria for becoming a Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery include:
-Full-service, Joint Commission accredited inpatient hospital facility, including intensive care and emergency room services.
-An established bariatric program, actively performing a minimum volume of 125 procedures annually for the past year.
-Sustained excess weight loss of greater than 50% at two years post-surgery for at least 90% of patients.
-Bariatric surgery team with adequate experience and credentialing.
-Acceptably low overall complication and mortality rates.
-Documented patient care and follow-up care procedures from admission through discharge, including long-term follow up post-surgery.
-A comprehensive quality management program that specifically incorporates bariatric surgery.

To learn more about Memorial’s Surgical Weight Loss program, call 423 495-2244.