MARSHFIELD – Patients seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality facility with specially trained surgeons and care providers for treatment in central Wisconsin. Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield is a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care.
Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield has been re-accredited 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).
“This accreditation demonstrates the efforts we go through to make sure patients have the best possible care and experience when they come to Marshfield Medical Center for bariatric surgery,” Director of Bariatric Surgery Dr. Vijaya Nirujogi said. “Giving patients a new lease on life following bariatric surgery is a privilege for us, and we look forward to hearing their stories about how the procedure made a positive change in their life.”
Obesity is a serious and chronic condition that increases the risks of type II diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, fatty liver, and other health problems. When traditional weight loss methods fail and class 2 or 3 obesity persist, weight loss surgery may be an option to consider. Both Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy surgeries for weight loss help decrease appetite, decrease the amount of food that can be eaten at one time, and alters how the body utilizes energy due to hormonal changes. Weight loss surgery is currently the most effective and longest lasting treatment available for severe obesity.
The MBSAQIP Standards, outlined in the Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2016, ensure that bariatric surgical patients receive a multidisciplinary program, not just a surgical procedure, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. The accredited center offers preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for their severely obese patients. The care team is committed to seek continuous quality improvement to enhance the structure, process, and outcomes of the metabolic and bariatric surgery program.
To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Marshfield Medical Center met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its processes and outcomes, identifying opportunities for continuous quality improvement.