| > | | | | they can assist. Many also contract with contract with |
| According to the American College of Surgeons, most | | | | financial institutions to offer financial assistance to |
| severely obese patients fail to maintain a normal, | | | | patients who do not have insurance but who still want |
| healthy weight without non-surgical means. Because | | | | bariatric surgery. |
| surgery holds the key to success for so many obese | | | | The American College of Surgeons (ACS) |
| Americans, it is helpful to learn about prominent | | | | recommends choosing a bariatric center that |
| bariatric surgery centers. | | | | completes at least 125 bariatric surgeries per year. |
| Many hospitals and medical centers now have bariatric | | | | According to the ACS, well-equipped centers will |
| surgery centers onsite. These centers do more than | | | | typically have two or more bariatric surgeons on staff, |
| just perform surgeries; many offer a multidisciplinary | | | | and highly experienced surgeons would be certified by |
| approach, including the expertise of surgeons, | | | | the American Board of Surgery and complete at least |
| psychologists, registered dietitians, physical therapists, | | | | fifty bariatric operations per year. |
| exercise physiologist, meditation specialists, and others. | | | | There are bariatric surgery centers located across the |
| Some centers will also communicate with the | | | | entire country. Prominent bariatric surgery centers |
| patient’s insurance company for the | | | | include the Alsam Bariatric Center, the Michigan |
| pre-approval and appeal process. Most provide | | | | Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence P.C., the |
| ongoing medical check-ups to monitor patient health | | | | University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the |
| and weight-loss post-operatively. | | | | Hackensack Bariatric Surgery Center, the Bariatric |
| On occasion, bariatric surgical centers will partner with | | | | Institute of Kentucky, and the California Institute of |
| others to form a cooperative, essentially doubling the | | | | Minimally Invasive Surgery’s Advanced Bariatric |
| services they can provide and the number of patients | | | | Surgery Center of Fresno, among many others. |