Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital Bariatric Program

The Only Nationally Accredited Program in Morris County by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program

Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital meets all criteria as a Comprehensive Center according to national quality standards established to deliver safe, high quality bariatric patient care

[Dover, NJ]: Patients seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving treatment at the only nationally accredited program in Morris County that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care.

Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital announced its bariatric surgical program has been accredited as a Comprehensive Center 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). It is the only facility to currently have this designation in Morris County.

The MBSAQIP Standards, outlined in the Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2016 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.

“The staff and physicians at Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital are committed to helping patients achieve and sustain their weight loss goals,” said Alexander Abkin, MD, FACS, FASMBS, medical director, bariatric surgery program at Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital. “We believe when a patient makes the decision to have this surgery, they are truly ready to live a healthier life. Our dedicated bariatric team works together to offer a comprehensive program to ensure that patients achieve their weight loss and lifestyle goals.”

To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital 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 MBSAQIPResources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2016, published by the ACS and ASMBS.

“Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital’s bariatric team works together to provide the highest quality care in an environment where our patients feel safe, and are guided through their weight loss journey,” said Brian Finestein, CEO, Saint Clare’s Health. “Our designation as a Comprehensive Center in Morris County shows Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital’s commitment to quality, our patients and their healthy lifestyle.”

After submitting an application, centers seeking MBSAQIP Accreditation undergo an extensive site 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.

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*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.

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About Saint Clare’s Health

Saint Clare’s Health is an award-winning provider of safe, high quality, compassionate care, serving the communities of Morris and Sussex counties. Its network of hospitals and healthcare facilities include Denville Hospital, Dover Hospital, Behavioral Health centers in Boonton, Denville, and Parsippany, Sussex Community Urgent Care Center, and an Imaging Center in Parsippany, among other satellite locations.

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient. 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 80,000 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, founded in 1983, was formed to advance the art and science of metabolic and bariatric surgery by continually improving the quality and safety of care and treatment of people with obesity and related diseases through educational and support programs for surgeons and integrated health professionals.