Patients seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving treatment at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care in the greater High Point area.
High Point Medical Center, which provides bariatric services through the High Point Medical Center Bariatric & Weight Loss Center, has received accreditation as a Comprehensive Center, formerly known as the Center of Excellence designation, 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).
The MBSAQIP Standards 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.
"I am especially proud of the hard work by the High Point Medical Center Bariatric & Weight Loss Center team in achieving this accreditation,” said Dr. Nik Teppara, lead surgeon of the bariatric program at High Point Medical Center. “The care we provide here is highly personalized and our program is comprehensive providing patients with the support they need from the moment they begin to consider bariatric surgery. Earning this accreditation shows our commitment to providing the very best care possible right here in High Point.”
High Point Medical Center Bariatric & Weight Loss Center’s commitment to quality care begins with appropriately trained staff and the lead surgeon who participate in meetings throughout the year to review its outcomes. They seek continuous improvement to enhance the structure, process and outcomes of the center.
To earn the MBSAQIP designation, High Point 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.
“This designation raises the bar in defining high-quality care for patients suffering from obesity in our community,” said Dr. Andy Eskew, executive medical director of High Point Medical Center. “This recognition shows that Dr. Teppara and his excellent staff at High Point Medical Center Bariatric & Weight Loss Center have the tools, systems and resources to provide our patients with the best care as they work towards their weight loss goals.”
In the United States, around 15.5 million people suffer from severe obesity, according to the National Institutes of Health, and the numbers continue to increase. Obesity increases the risks of morbidity and mortality because of the diseases and conditions that are commonly associated with it, such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, among other health risks. Metabolic and bariatric surgical procedures have proven to be effective in the reduction of comorbid conditions related to severe obesity.
Media contacts:
Becky Kreitz, becky.kreitz@wakehealth.edu, 336-878-6711