AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center (ARMC) has again been named a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

The ASMBS center of excellence program recognizes bariatric surgery centers that perform well and helps surgeons and hospitals continue to improve the quality and safety of care they provide. ARMC’s Center for Surgical Weight Loss & Wellness first earned the designation in 2005.

Alexander Onopchenko, MD, FACS, medical director of the Center for Surgical Weight Loss & Wellness at ARMC, and Samir Patel, MD, a Center for Surgical Weight Loss & Wellness surgeon, were also redesignated as Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence surgeons.

Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an organization dedicated to pursuing bariatric surgical excellence, formulates and establishes the rigorous standards with which the Center for Surgical Weight Loss & Wellness at ARMC and other Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence designees must comply. It thoroughly inspects and evaluates candidates for designation, and upon review recommends approval of designation for those physicians and facilities whose practices and outcomes meet the stringent requirements set forth by SRC for ASMBS.

“Earning recertification as an ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence is a testament to the continued quality of ARMC’s bariatric program and the dedication of our team,” said Donna Howell, RN, MBA, executive director, Operative & Invasive Services, ARMC.

“ARMC was among the first programs in the state to receive the Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence certification,” said Alexander Onopchenko,MD, medical director, Center for Surgical Weight Loss & Wellness, ARMC. “We are committed to continuing to provide the quality care that has earned this designation and more importantly - contributed to our patients’ well-being.”

ARMC’s Center for Surgical Weight Loss & Wellness offers a comprehensive program that provides treatment and assistance in every step of weight loss, from enrolling in the program to weight loss and maintaining optimal health following surgery. ARMC’s multidisciplinary Surgical Weight Loss & Wellness team offers personalized, compassionate care and attention in the areas of: surgery; nursing; nutrition; physical therapy and exercise; respiratory therapy; psychological counseling; and patient care coordination.

About American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery 

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is the largest society for this specialty in the world. Founded in 1983, foremost American surgeons have formed the society’s leadership and have established an excellent organization with educational and support programs for surgeons and allied health professionals. The purpose of the society is to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery by continued encouragement of its members to: pursue investigations in both the clinic and the laboratory; interchange ideas, information and experience pertaining to bariatric surgery; promote guidelines for ethical patient selection and care; develop educational programs for physicians, paramedical persons, and lay people; and promote outcome studies and quality assurance. For more information about ASMBS, please visit www.asmbs.org.

About Surgical Review Corporation

Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) is an independent, non-profit organization governed by industry stakeholders and dedicated to advancing the safety, efficacy and efficiency of bariatric and metabolic surgical care worldwide. To accelerate best practices development for the treatment of morbid obesity and its associated conditions, SRC launched center of excellence programs for bariatric surgery and developed the Bariatric Outcomes Longitudinal Database (BOLD). SRC has already designated more than 650 surgeons and 375 hospitals and freestanding outpatient facilities, and BOLD is now the world’s largest repository of clinical bariatric surgery patient data.

For more information, please visit www.surgicalreview.org.