Bariatric Times July/August 2007

Bariatric Times • July/August 2007 Bariatric Center Spotlight 17 WHAT IS THE SIZE OF YOUR FACILITY? WHAT DOES IT PHYSICALLY ENCOMPASS? University General Hospital Systems is a national for-profit healthcare system, and University General Hospital is its flagship hospital and the first of 10 physician owned hospitals to be built across the country. University General • Race: 532 Caucasian, 129 African American, 85 Hispanic, 10 Other • Insurance: 375 Self Pay, 381 Private Insurance • Re-Admissions within 30 days of primary procedure: 13/756 = 1.72% • Re-Operations within 30 days of primary procedure: 6/756 = 0.79% • Mortality: 0/756 = 0% held on March 20, 2007, and has recently been desginated an ASBS Center of Excellence by the surgical review corporation. DOES YOUR CENTER HAVE ONE PARTICULAR AREA OF EXPERTISE (I.E. SURGERY, PSYCHOTHERAPY, DIETARY, ETC)? University General Hospital has four highly skilled bariatric surgeons who are dedicated to positive surgical outcomes. Our program area of expertise is the talent of our surgeons, coupled with a strong program structure that includes patient emotional and nutritional support before and after the surgical event. The high level of customer service before and after surgery has made our program very successful. Bariatric team, left to right: Kathryn Lito, MPH, RD, LD, Bariatric Dietitian Trudy Ivins, RN, Bariatric Program Director Monica Agosta, PsyD, Bariatric Psychologist PLEASE GIVE A GENERAL SYNOPSIS OF HOW YOUR PATIENTS ARE TREATED WHILE UNDER THE CARE OF YOUR CENTER. Prior to surgery, patients are required to attend an educational seminar. Seminars are hosted every Hospital is a 72 bed, general acute care hospital, built on the principles of five-star treatment and medical excellence. University General is located in the heart of Houston, Texas, just south of the Texas Medical Center. University General offers a full array of services, including inpatient and outpatient medical treatments and surgeries, six state-of-the-art operating suites, two cardiac catheterization labs, an endoscopy suite, pulmonary medicine, sleep center suites, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory as well as other ancillary services. DID YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ATTAINING THE SRC CENTER OF EXCELLENCE DESIGNATION? Administrative support and dedication to the bariatric program was key to being prepared for our Center of Excellence site visit, which was conducted just six months after University General Hospital opened its doors. Prior to our first bariatric patient ever receiving services, University General Hospital had its pathways, standardized orders, employee education, support groups, equipment, and furniture in place. During the initial design and construction phases of our hospital, much thought and planning was put into every area of the hospital. As it relates to our bariatric patient population, our objective was to build a facility designed to meet the obvious and not-so-obvious needs of our bariatric patient population. Ultimately, we desire to provide the best service to every patient regardless of their individual needs. University General Hospital hand selected its experienced bariatric staff who all possess individual knowledge of the COE site review process - our experienced staff has made the difference. University General Hospital's Center of Excellence site visit was Saturday by one of our four bariatric surgeons. The seminar consists of a presentation given by the surgeon concerning all aspects of weight loss and bariatric surgery, followed by an open question and answer session. Patients are provided with informative educational materials they can take home, review, and help them think about the decision that lies ahead. In addition, all interested seminar attendees receive a tour of our state-of-the-art facility. Following the seminar, patients receive a one-on-one consultation by the surgeon in the surgeons' office. This consultation includes a review of the patients' medical history and evaluation to determine if the patient is an appropriate surgical candidate. Patients who are considered surgery candidates then attend nutritional and psychological consultations and evaluations. The patient's information is then reviewed by the bariatric team for surgical appropriateness. University General Hospital strongly encourages surgery candidates to attend our hospital based support group meeting and WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS TREATED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AT YOUR FACILITY? Our estimated bariatric surgery volume is 1,000 bariatric surgeries annually. Since our facility opened on October 1, 2006, the facility has performed 756 bariatric surgeries, as of July 31, 2007. Demographically, the University General bariatric patient population consists of the following: • Surgery Type: 580 Lap Bands, 45 Gastric Bypass, 131 Revisional Surgeries • Average Body Mass Index (BMI): 42 • Average Age: 41 years old • Gender: 579 Females; 177 Males http://www.gendroninc.com http://www.gendroninc.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Bariatric Times July/August 2007

Cover Editorial Message Table of Contents Editorial Board Letter to the Editor Malpractice Preventative Maintenance: Record Protocols and Happy Lawyers Resolution of Fibromyalgia Following Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass University General Hospital Bariatric Program at University General Hospital Journal Watch Category List Trade Name Index Company Index Products and Services

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