Holm and Smith Express Excitement Over MBSAQIP Accreditation
Hattiesburg Clinic is pleased to announce that Forrest General Hospital Weight Loss Surgery Services was recently designated as a bariatric comprehensive center of excellence for bariatric surgery by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). Neal T. Holm, MD, and Daniel H. Smith, MD, physicians with Hattiesburg Clinic Surgery, perform bariatric surgeries at Forrest General Hospital. This accreditation is evidence of their dedication to providing high-quality care to their patients.
“Being an accredited Bariatric Center of Excellence means providing specifically trained staff dedicated to the bariatric patient. From pre-operative to post-operative care, Hattiesburg Clinic and Forrest General Hospital’s management, support and dedicated ancillary staff work closely together to make this a successful program. Maintaining our accreditation and providing this service will positively affect our community and patient outcomes,” Dr. Holm said.
MBSAQIP is made up of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). These organizations joined to form a unified program to achieve one national accreditation standard for bariatric surgery centers. MBSAQIP works to advance safe, high-quality care for bariatric surgical patients.
A bariatric surgical center achieves accreditation by following a rigorous review process during which it proves that it can maintain certain physical resources, human resources and standards of practice. One of the key factors contributing to the receipt of this MBSAQIP accreditation is Hattiesburg Clinic and Forrest General Hospital Weight Loss Surgery Services’ multidisciplinary approach to patient care. The collaboration among surgeons, nurses, dietitians and other health care professionals ensures patients receive comprehensive and personalized care throughout their surgical journey.
“The accreditation process is a lengthy evaluation of our program. The education and preparedness of our staff is also scrutinized,” Dr. Smith, who also serves as the medical director for Forrest General Hospital Weight Loss Surgery Services, said.
Smith went on to say surgeons [Holm and Smith] set the protocols and training processes for the staff. This puts them in a place to be closely involved with the path to accreditation.
“As the medical director for our newly accredited program, I have been deeply involved in every step of the accreditation process,” Smith said. “It has been a long journey, but receiving this accreditation is a testament to all of our team’s commitment to excellence.”
Congratulations to Smith, Holm and Forrest General Hospital Weight Loss Surgery Services for this well-deserved accreditation, which is a testament to their pursuit in providing quality care.
What is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery is a weight loss surgery for patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40 or a BMI between 35 and 39 with at least one co-morbidity, such as:
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep apnea
- Hypertension
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Degenerative disc/joint disease
This surgery works by changing the anatomy or position of the stomach and small intestines. This causes changes in appetite, when you feel full and a shift in metabolism.
For more information about bariatric surgery, follow the link below, call (601) 296-2833 or talk to your primary care provider.
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About Hattiesburg Clinic Weight Management:
Hattiesburg Clinic Weight Management provides specialized care to individuals who have an increased body mass, with the goal to improve health by addressing excess weight as a chronic disease. Weight Management offers a support group where individuals who are struggling with their weight can come together to share their stories and get help and support in their efforts to be a healthier version of themselves. At Weight Management, our mission is to help the individual combat excess weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle, ultimately improving his or her quality of life.
About Hattiesburg Clinic Surgery:
Surgery provides surgical diagnostic and treatment expertise in the management of disease of the digestive tract, breast, endocrine system, surgical oncology (i.e., breast cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer), thyroid cancer and vascular access. Complete evaluation of patients on an outpatient basis is available through the services of the vascular laboratory, The Breast Center, Imaging (MRI, X-ray, CT and ultrasound) and Laboratory departments.
About Hattiesburg Clinic:
Hattiesburg Clinic is Mississippi’s largest privately-owned, multispecialty clinic. More than 60 years after its beginning, the clinic has grown to over 450 physicians and providers, caring for patients in more than 17 counties in South Mississippi. Along with over 2,500 professional staff employees, these physicians and providers come together for a common purpose, to serve the over 500,000 community members who live and work in South Mississippi every day.
