Bariatric Center
Center of Excellence Designation Awarded
What is a Center of Excellence (COE)?
A Center of Excellence (COE) is a hospital facility/program that has undergone an independent and voluntary evaluation in accordance with nationally recognized bariatric surgical standards and met the rigorous requirements to be designated as a COE.
The evaluation involves assessment of the following criteria:
- physical resources
- human resources
- clinical standards
- surgeon credentialing standards
- data-reporting standards
- quality improvement practices
- verification/approvals processes
What is the purpose of a COE designation?
COE programs are developed to identify bariatric surgery programs that can provide the patient with a high level of care and experience consistent with established standards. Obtaining COE status requires programs to achieve and maintain quality outcomes that ensure not only a safe surgery, but also the education, multi-disciplinary support, and life-long engagement to ensure long-term success for the bariatric patient.
Part of the COE requirements also involve mandatory hospital and program multi-disciplinary meetings and quality improvement process. COEs are required to report their outcome data (complications, weight loss, readmissions, etc.) to a registry to ensure that high quality of care is maintained.
Who determines whether a hospital or program is a COE?
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) have joined their two COE programs, the ACS Bariatric Surgery Center Network (BSCN) and the ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence (BSCOE), respectively. As of April 1, 2012, all institutions having met the standards under the separate programs will be extended accreditation in the new program.