center of excellence

Hi, Can some one explain what it is??from what I have read its how many surg. they do in a year.Does it mean they are better dr.'s or do a better job or have less complications? I would think If im doing more surg. there would be more complications.

Hi!  You are right.  The center of excellence has to do with how many surgeries the surgeon(s) done.  I believe it has to be 150+.  I know EMMC in Bangor is rated as a center of excellence, but my surgeon (Dr. Lalor) is not yet because he hasn't performed enough surgeries at that location YET.

I believe that the hospital staff that deals with the surgeries has to complete classes to educate them better also.  It just tells you that they have undergone more training than others have.  Hope this helps.

Centers of Excellence were developed by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery as a guide to help people locate an experienced surgeon and a quality hospital program. This came after the group recognized that some surgeons were performing weight loss operations with very little training or without offering educational support for their patients. Also, many hospitals lacked the equipment and personnel to take care of severely obese patients. Complications were higher and patients lacked the support to get their best weight loss in these situations. Alittle information about EMMC....

The Surgical Weight Loss Program at EMMC offers the open and laparascopic approach to the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, as well as the adjustable laparascopic gastric band. The program remains one of a handful in the United States that offers the most up-to-date technology – including robotically assisted bariatric procedures. And our physicians are highly skilled. Dr. Clough, medical director of the program, has been performing weight loss surgeries since the late 1970’s, and his partner, Dr. Toder has been participating since the mid-1990’s. Dr. Toder is so proficient with robotically assisted bariatric procedures that surgeons from across the globe are coming to EMMC to learn from her how to perform such surgeries. Dr. Lalor has been performing weight loss surgery since 2006. He received his undergraduate degree from Amherst College and his medical school training from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He completed a general surgical residency at Lankenau Hospital in Philadelphia and recently completed a fellowship in Bariatrics and Advanced Laparoscopy from the Cleveland Clinic Florida. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He specializes in minimal invasive surgery whi*****ludes the laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (a newer approach to weight loss surgery

EMMC’s commitment ensuring high-quality surgical weight loss is available close-to-home, led to the creation of the Surgical Weight Loss Program 2002. Since that time a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach, to surgery has led to improved outcomes for our patients. More than 300 weight loss surgeries are performed annually at EMMC. http://swlp.emmc.org/index.asp

hi, Thank you for the info I think id still check on the complication rate of the Dr.then how many people go threw thier office.I also put this on the main forum.check out other replys there.