Summerville Medical Center and Coastal Carolina Bariatrics & Surgical Center have announced the hospital's bariatric program has received re-accreditation as a Comprehensive Center with Obesity Medicine Qualifications by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
More than 13 years ago, Summerville Medical Center and the practice of Coastal Carolina Bariatrics & Surgical Center launched the bariatric program for patients seeking weight loss options for obesity. The nationally accredited program meets the highest patient safety and quality standards across Dorchester County and surrounding communities.
Summerville Medical Center's care begins with trained staff and the leadership of the program's bariatric medical director, Dr. Logan Rawlins. The program is tasked with continuous data review as it continues improving the structure and outcomes expertise necessary to provide safe, efficacious and high-quality care to all metabolic and bariatric patients.
"Bariatric Center of Excellence accreditation represents the highest level of quality care," Rawlins said. "We are so very appreciative of our staff whose tireless efforts and hard work allow us to achieve such great heights. This collaborative effort and dedication to excellence enable our program to provide the best bariatric care to patients in the Lowcountry."
To earn MBSAQIP Accreditation, the bariatric program met criteria for staffing, training, facility infrastructure and patient care pathways, ensuring its ability to support patients with obesity. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its surgical outcomes and identifies opportunities for quality improvement. The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, are published by the ACS and the ASMBS.
After applying for MBSAQIP Accreditation, the program underwent an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviewed its structure, processes and clinical outcomes data. Facilities that earn accreditation are awarded a specific designation level depending on how many patients they serve annually, their critical care capabilities and the types of procedures they provide.
"Summerville Medical Center is proud to be among the elite number of facilities in the area that have been rated as an Accredited Comprehensive Center with Obesity Medicine Qualifications by the MBSAQIP," said Stephen Chandler, CEO of Summerville Medical Center. "This means our bariatrics team has complied with the MBSAQIP's rigorous quality standards and reinforces our dedication to patient-centered care. We are committed to being a lifestyle educator, a skilled medical partner, and a trusted support team as our patients continue their weight loss journey."