What is a "Bariatric Center of Excellence?"

I think that it's amusing how defensive you get because you are being challenged. I am a patient and a healthcare provider, I would think that means that I know a bit more than you do.

I don't need to cite anything because in the big picture, it means nothing. People can pick and choose whatever publications they wish to believe. 

I don't know that I need to argue further with you as others can see how silly you really sound. You are paranoid and a conspiracy theorist and really don't know much about what you are talking about. I feel that it would be akin to beating my head against a wall to discuss this further with you.

Typical - when you have no facts or logic to support your argument, you resort to a baseless ad hominem attack - you attempt to attack my character rather than the facts and publications I have provided. Because you have nothing else.

You are a "health care provider?" I'm guessing that means nurse or some other job that doesn't require an advanced degree - or even the ability to use PubMed to support your ridiculous assertions.

"Follow the money." And use critical thinking skills. It is not difficult to discern the facts, if you are not brainwashed.

interesting assumption.  I am quite highly-educated though, thank you. Nurses have advanced degrees as well btw. 

 Do you think using $0.50 words make you sound more intelligent? Please. get over yourself.  I have nothing to prove to you. I know what is correct. You seem to be on an attack and need to prove something.

Here, if you need something else to read... From the governing body itself...

Comprehensive Requirements

The ASMBS BSCOE program’s objective requirements and evaluation processes were developed in conjunction with leading bariatric surgeons, hospital administrators, health plans, researchers and patient advocates. A commitment to long-term patient care and success necessitates that the requirements be comprehensive, research-based and verified through a rigorous site inspection.

The BSCOE program recognizes that bariatric surgical care can be provided in two distinct settings: hospitals and freestanding outpatient facilities, which are also known as ambulatory surgery centers or surgicenters. Designation requirements reflect the specific care environments found in each type of facility.

There are 10 requirements for bariatric programs based in hospitals:

1. Institutional Commitment to Excellence
2. Surgical Experience and Volumes
3. Designated Medical Director
4. Responsive Critical Care Support
5. Appropriate Equipment and Instruments
6. Surgeon Dedication and Qualified Call Coverage
7. Clinical Pathways and Standardized Operating Procedures
8. Bariatric Nurses, Physician Extenders and Program Coordinator
9. Patient Support Groups
10. Long-Term Patient Follow-up, including BOLD

If you look at exactly what is required for each of those 10 points, it's not a very high standard though. A lot of it is about making sure to have bariatric-sized beds and gowns and things like that. I would consider most of those requirements to be pretty basic and any place that provided them, but nothing more, to be providing the lowest level of acceptable care.

I looked for a program and hospital that had a higher standard of care than what is required to get the COE designation. It turned out that hospital I was operated on didn't have the COE brand but it consistently gets 5 stars on the Health Grade report each year and not every COE can say that. Plus, my surgeon had the COE designation and the hospital met every criteria so they could have had it. (In fact, I think they now do so they  must have decided to bit the bullet and apply for it at some point.)

I don't agree that every COE program is a surgery mill though. It's pretty easy for the bigger hospitals to apply for any and every certification out there and they often do. Plus, the COE standard is pretty easy to meet for most programs, except for maybe the very smallest or the surgeons who don't specialize in bariatric care but do it as a bit of a sideline. But, then, I didn't want someone who did bariatric surgery as a side business to be cutting into me so that part of it was moot.

it is a costly venture for a hospital to become COE. to have all the equipment, education, staff, etc to become a COE and maintain it is worth something. There are a lot of small hospitals that have certifications as well. The hospital I work for is not a big university hosital, it's a smaller community one.

I agree, many hospitals apply for a lot of certifications and that doesn't mean they are the best at all of them. A hospital that is a COE for whaever it is for means, more than anything, that they do more of the surgeries.  I personally would want my surgeon to have done a lot of whatever surgery they are performing on me. Experience means a lot to me. That is just me though.

To group them all into one and say it's because they are part of a conspiracy with the insurance companies is ludacris! 

I agree that it is important to also look at the Health Grade reports as well.  They mean the most!

Well to say studies are meaningless is ludicrous as well. In fact, I find the argument that "you can find a study to support anything so therefore I don't have to back up what I say" to be disingenuous at best. If it's true you can find a study to support anything, then find one that says going to a CoE results in better outcomes.

"A hospital that is a COE for whaever it is for means, more than anything, that they do more of the surgeries."

My surgeon had done over 1000 VSGs before he did mine. He does hundreds of WLS a year and has been doing this for over a decade. But not all the hospitals he works out of are CoE. The one I had my surgery at did way more WLS a year than the paltry 125 that the CoE requires just with his surgeries alone and they have a number of other surgeons that work out of there.

So it's not true that being a CoE means they do more of the surgeries. More than some hospitals, but less than others... in fact,  it really doesn't mean nothing other than that they met the minimum necessary criteria and applied for the certification and got it.

to achieve COE for bariatric surgery,  the hospital and surgeons have to perform a MINIMUM amount of surgeries is ONLY PART of the criteria. I've never said that other hospitals don't do them or do more. I'm glad that you did your research and found  a surgeon that has a lot of experience.

Do you work with the ASMBS? I'm curious how you know what the COE means better than I do.  I know exactly what the requirements are for certification as I've had to prepare for it so I can speak to it. Do you or are you just assuming to know what it means? 

Since you know what the requirements are for a COE, perhaps you would be willing to share it with the rest of us. I know I would like to know everything there is to know about the certification process. Oh and what exactly is the MINIMUM amount of surgeries a surgeon is required to perform ?

Pumpkin, if you look at a few posts of mine back, you'll see that I posted them already.  The minimum surgeries that the surgeon has to perform is 125/yr. 

if you click on the blue letters it will connect you to another link that better describes each one.

I don't see the blue link Can you just give me the link directly and I would love it if you could direct me to a site by Allergen where they actually list ALL the requirements, and if there is a fee charged by them to the surgeon to take and pass the THE LAP BAND TOTAL CARE program certification classes.

Help me out here please...