First Accredited Bariatric Program in Coastal Bend, Corpus Christi Medical Center, named Bariatric Comprehensive Center by The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program.

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, September 21, 2015—Patients seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving treatment at Corpus Christi Medical Center (CCMC)-Bay Area, a nationally accredited program, that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care in the greater Corpus Christi area.

“Setting patient care standards higher by achieving accreditation from the MBSAQIP and the American College of Surgeons is a significant accomplishment. Patients seeking bariatric surgery, also called weight loss surgery, can be treated locally by a trusted, accredited bariatric program at Bay Area,” said Jay Woodall, CEO at CCMC.

The MBSAQIP Standards, outlined in the Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2014, 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.

CCMC’s commitment to quality care begins with training and leadership of staff and surgeons.

Patient outcomes and processes are reviewed to enhance the structure and outcomes of the center.

To earn the MBSAQIP designation, CCMC 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. The standards are specified in the MBSAQIP Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2014, published by the ACS and ASMBS.

“The accreditation validates the enormous efforts of our physicians, support staff, and administration over the last several years to build a truly outstanding bariatric surgery program. We will continue to evolve the program so patients will never have to leave the area to get state-of –the-art bariatric surgery,” stated Dr. Lloyd Stegemann, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Medical Director at Corpus Christi Medical Center.

After submitting an application, centers seeking MBSAQIP Accreditation undergo an extensive onsite visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon, who reviews the center's structure, process, and clinical outcomes data. Centers are awarded a specific designation depending on how many patients it serves annually, the type of procedures it provides, and whether it provides care for patients under age 18.

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.* Working with ASMBS, the ACS expanded this quality program for bariatric surgery centers so that it can assist bariatric patients in identifying those centers that provide optimal surgical care.

There are three types of bariatric surgery performed at CCMC-Bay Area including Gastric Bypass, Gastric Banding and Sleeve Gastrectomy. Currently, Lloyd Stegemann, MD, and Glenn Griffin, MD perform weight loss surgery procedures at Bay Area Hospital. For additional information about Bariatric Surgery at CCMC, visit our website at http://ccmedicalcenter.com or call Jessie Fernandez, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Coordinator at 361.985.3643.


*Buchwald H, Avidor Y, Braunwald E, et al. Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2004;292(14):1724-1737. DOI:10.1001/jama.292.14.1724.