Question:
What iare the Centers of Excellence?

   — mariebass (posted on November 29, 2009)

November 30, 2009
Akron City Hospital in Akron, OH. Dr. Adrian Dan was wonderful!!
   — HeatherNP

November 30, 2009

   — Julz3170

November 30, 2009
yes, I guess I should have expanded. Usually these centers are not just surgeons but teams of experts to help you through the process. My center had dieticians, psychologists, nurses and nurse practitioners, financial/insurance experts, etc. And they also usually have a medical management for weight loss as well as surgical options. They are experts in all aspects of weight loss and will follow you for life if you do decide to have surgery. I highly recommend a center of excellence.
   — HeatherNP

November 30, 2009
Additionally, Bariatric Centers of Excellence offer pre-and-post-op support groups, usually at the hospital, but also in outlaying areas with specially trained moderators. My Center, Rose Hospital in Denver, has several classes each month, including exercise classes, lapband support groups, RNY support groups, general support groups, and teleconferencing support groups for those who live farther away. I began going to the support groups way before I had my surgery, and I learned a huge amount of information from those who'd already had their surgeries. And, our Center requires that you attend a 3 hour pre-op nutrition class, where they give you a notebook with about 12 tabs in it, and everything from "What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?" to shopping lists for things to get prior to surgery (including bandages and dressings and wound cleansing solutions), and pages with charts of what you should be drinking the first week home (and when), and when you should be adding in soft foods and what, and when you can begin eating more solid food and how much, and recipe suggestions, and question-and-answer pages, and "what to look for if you think you're in trouble", and then printed articles. Lastly, it had a weight log for you to keep track once a week of your weight. I still refer to it.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

December 1, 2009
Danbury Hospital in Danbury, CT is a center of excellence. Dr. Keith Zuccala is simply amazing. I can't say enough wonderful things about him and the entire hospital and program. I highly recommend it!
   — [Deactivated Member]

December 9, 2009
If you have Medicare, Medicare requires you to have your surgery done at a center of excellence. My doctor was waiting for his certification and I had to wait almost a year.
   — lucyfur

December 10, 2009
I'm 1yr and 4 months and believe me I feel if I would run real fast that I might take flight ha!hahaha! I lost 85 pounds. My insurance will pay for the surgery so check with your doctor and again with the insurance it not a vanity thing but a med issue.
   — kaybusk