Patients seeking surgical treatment for obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving care at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality in Southeast Texas.
The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Bariatric Center announced recently that its bariatric surgery center has been accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, ensure that metabolic and bariatric patients receive multidisciplinary medical care, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. MBSAQIP-accredited centers offer preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for patients with obesity.
“This prestigious accreditation is another reminder of our commitment to provide compassionate, excellent care for our patients here in Southeast Texas,” said Jerome Schrapps, M.D. and medical director of CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Bariatric Center. “Safe, high-quality metabolic and bariatric care are essential to meet the needs of Southeast Texans and beyond. Our team is proud to serve our community in this way.”
The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Bariatric Center’s commitment to quality care begins with expertly trained staff and the leadership of an experienced bariatric surgeon. The program is tasked with continuous review of surgical data as they continue improving the structure and outcomes expertise necessary to provide safe and high-quality care to all metabolic and bariatric patients.
To earn accreditation, CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Bariatric Center met essential criteria for staffing, training, facility infrastructure, and patient care pathways, ensuring its ability to support patients with obesity. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its surgical outcomes and identifies opportunities for quality improvement.
“We are incredibly blessed to have Dr. Schrapps and his team here at CHRISTUS to provide Southeast Texans the care they need right here in our community,” said Paul Trevino, president and CEO of CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System. “Our mission is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ in all we do, and Dr. Schrapps and his team live out that mission every single day.”
After applying for accreditation, centers undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviews the center’s structure, processes, and clinical outcomes data.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 93 million adults in the United States are affected by obesity and that number continues to increase. The disease of 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, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, among other health risks. Metabolic and bariatric surgery has proven to be effective in the reduction of health conditions related to obesity.