FLORHAM PARK, NJ, JULY 27, 2022: 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 the greater New Jersey area.

Dr. Alexander Abkin, Managing Partner of Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris and Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Director at Saint Clare’s Hospital in Dover and his partner Dr. Aram Jawed announced today that its bariatric surgery center has been accredited as a Comprehensive Center with Adolescent by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

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 accreditation highlights our leadership and ongoing commitment to success.” says Dr. Alexander Abkin, Director of Bariatric Surgery at Saint Clare’s Hospital in Dover. “The comprehensive bariatric surgery program at Saint Clare’s Hospital drastically improves the overall health and well-being of our patients.”

Saint Clare’s Hospital’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, efficacious, and high-quality care to all metabolic and bariatric patients.

To earn MBSAQIP Accreditation, Saint Clare’s Hospital 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 identifying opportunities for quality improvement. The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, are published by the ACS and the ASMBS.

After applying for MBSAQIP Accreditation, centers undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviews the center’s structure, processes, and clinical outcomes data. Centers that earn accreditation are awarded a specific designation level, depending on how many patients it serves annually, critical care capabilities, the types of procedures provided, and whether it provides care to patients under the age of 18.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 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 comorbid conditions related to obesity.* Working together, the ACS and the ASMBS have developed accreditation standards for metabolic and bariatric surgery to assist patients with obesity in identifying centers that provide optimal patient care.

*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.

About Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris, LLC
Founded by Dr. Alexander Abkin in 2001, the practice is recognized as a Center of Excellence by the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Dr. Abkin is medical director of bariatric surgery at Saint Clare’s Hospital in Dover. Under his leadership, the practice has performed over 10,000 bariatric procedures in the past 22 years. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He has been honored by his medical colleagues as a “Top Doctor” in NJ Monthly Magazine each year since 2007.

Dr. Aram Jawed is licensed to practice medicine and surgery in the state of New Jersey. He is Board Certified and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (FASMBS). He is a member of the American Medical Association (AMA), American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). He has been voted NJ Top Docs since 2020. He is also certified by da Vinci® Surgical as a robotic surgeon.

About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the quality of care for surgical patients. Its achievements have placed it at the forefront of American surgery and have made the College an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 82,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

About the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is the largest organization for metabolic and bariatric surgeons in the world, with more than 4,200 members. It is a not-for-profit organization that works to advance the science of metabolic and bariatric surgery. The ASMBS is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about metabolic and bariatric surgery, including the associated risks and benefits, as a treatment option for obesity.

For more information, please call 973-410-9700 or visit alsnj.com

CONTACT:
Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris
83 Hanover Road, Suite 190
Florham Park, NJ 07932
info@alsnj.com