The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program granted CHI Memorial’s Weight Management Center accreditation through December 2017.
Only 15 centers in Tennessee and 646 centers in the United States and Canada are currently MBSAQIP accredited centers. CHI Memorial was first accredited in 2005.
"For ten years, CHI Memorial was the only accredited center in Chattanooga, a testament to the surgeons’ and staff’s commitment to improving quality outcomes," officials said.
Center Co-Director Dr. Jamie Ponce said, “Our patients should feel that coming to Memorial for bariatric surgery is the best and safest option.”
Drs. Jaime Ponce, Jack Rutledge, and Christopher Sanborn are fully accredited surgeons who work at the Weight Management Center. They perform an average of 250 surgeries each year.
A bariatric surgeon reviews each bariatric case prior to surgery and a registered nurse monitors all postoperative bariatric patients. Postoperative data is collected at 30 days, 6 months, and on an annual basis thereafter. All data is reported to MBSAQIP and facility performance reports are generated on a semiannual basis. These reports are utilized to compare data with other MBSAQIP accredited centers.
"CHI Memorial is the only hospital in Chattanooga recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield Distinction Centers in Bariatric Surgery, Optum/United Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence, Cigna Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence and Aetna Bariatric Surgery Institute of Quality program," officials said.
Memorial's non-surgical weight loss option includes appointments with a registered dietitian and licensed clinical social worker. For more information, call 423-495-2256.