St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way has been named a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) in recognition of its experience and favorable outcomes in weight-loss surgery.

“We are very proud to receive this designation from the largest society for the specialty of surgical weight-loss,” said Syd Bersante, chief operating officer for St. Francis. “This special recognition acknowledges the high-quality care that is the hallmark of our program.”

More than 1,600 surgical weight-loss procedures have been performed at St. Francis Hospital since 2000, more than any other hospital in Washington. The hospital’s surgeons perform a full range of procedures, including gastric bypass and the adjustable, reversible gastric band (LapBand) procedure.

“We believe that the ASBS Centers of Excellence program can serve as a catalyst that drives strong programs to get even better,” said Janelle Morissette, a registered nurse and manager of the Northwest Center for Weight Management at St. Francis. “We are doing our part to make sure that our patients receive the best care and enjoy the best outcomes.”

To earn the prestigious Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence designation, St. Francis Hospital underwent a site inspection during which all aspects of its bariatric surgery processes were examined and health-outcomes information reviewed.

Obesity is a major national health issue. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 65 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese. Only individuals considered morbidly obese (more than 100 pounds over their optimum weight) -- and those dealing with debilitating health problems associated with being overweight -- are candidates for weight-loss surgery.

“Bariatric surgery is a very effective therapy for morbid obesity and its complications,” said Ms. Morissette, who has managed the Northwest Center for Weight Management at St. Francis since 2004. “A variety of surgical procedures can result in full remission of many health problems related to being overweight, including diabetes, stress incontinence, infertility, asthma and high blood pressure.”

“Still, weight-loss surgery is not a quick fix and is most effective when paired with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise,” she added. “We also work with our patients to help them address emotional or psychological issues that may have contributed to their being overweight.”

According to a national study released in July 2005 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of weight-loss surgeries in the nation more than quadrupled between 1998 and 2002 – from 13,386 to 71,733. Faced with clinical evidence that the most experienced and best-run surgery programs have the fewest complications, the ASBS Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence program was created to recognize facilities that perform well and to help surgeons and hospitals continue improving the quality and safety of care.

Surgical Review Corp. (SRC) establishes the rigorous standards with which St. Francis Hospital and other Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence must comply. SRC also conducts the Centers of Excellence program for the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (www.asbs.org), the professional organization which strives to advance the art and science of weight-loss surgery.

In addition to its Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence designation, St. Francis Hospital has been named among the nation’s Top 100 hospitals during five of the past six years based on an independent evaluation of clinical outcomes, financial performance and other criteria by Solucient, a healthcare research company.

The 110-bed hospital is a part of the Franciscan Health System, which also includes St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood, and a network of primary-care and specialty-care clinics throughout Pierce and South King counties.