Moon Twp., PA (March 11, 2010)— Heritage Valley Sewickley announced its re-certification as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) through its partnership with Hope Bariatrics, the surgical program of Geoff Wilcox, M.D., and Mike Felix, M.D. The ASBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery and a long term post-surgery follow up program.

“Heritage Valley Sewickley’s role in providing a state-of-the-art facility for bariatric surgery and post-surgical care is reflected through this Center of Excellence recertification,” said Norm Mitry, president and chief executive officer for Heritage Valley Health System. “The experience and expertise of the bariatric care team including physicians and staff involved in caring for our bariatric patients is evident through the excellent outcomes experienced by bariatric patients.”

Heritage Valley Sewickley and the Hope Bariatrics’ surgery program was recertified after a thorough documentation review of outcomes data and a site visit in which all aspects of the surgical program were closely evaluated. The ASBS review assessed the program’s ability to help patients cope with the significant emotional and lifestyle changes through a multi-tiered approach that includes nutritional, psychological, and educational support. The surgeons’ skills and the quality of the hospital in which the bariatric procedures are performed are also assessed.

“This designation is an indicator of the excellent level of care we provide to our patients, beginning with the pre-operative information seminar and office visits, to the surgery and hospital stay, and through the extensive post-operative follow-up process,” said Dr. Wilcox.

According to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, as many as two out of every three Americans are obese and 23 million Americans are morbidly obese, with a body mass index higher than 40. Because of the obesity epidemic, more and more people are turning to bariatric surgery. Faced with clinical evidence that the most experienced and best-run bariatric surgery programs have by far the lowest rates of complications, the ASBS Centers of Excellence program was created to recognize bariatric surgery centers that perform well and to help surgeons and hospitals continue to improve the quality and safety of care provided.