Bariatric Program at Orlando Health - Health Central Hospital Achieves National Accreditation

The bariatric program at Orlando Health – Health Central Hospital recently received accreditation as a Comprehensive Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

“The accreditation recognizes the quality care our team delivers,” said Wiljon Beltre, bariatric surgeon, medical director, bariatric program at Orlando Health – Health Central. “Everyone has a part and our team members are dedicated to their roles, and give their best to the program to ensure positive outcomes and improved lives for our patients.”

The MBSAQIP Standards ensure patients receive care from a multidisciplinary program, not just a surgical procedure, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success.

Beyond the traditional and robotic surgery options performed at Orlando Health – Health Central, a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, nurses, registered dietitians and other medical professionals with specialized training work to ensure positive, quality outcomes for patients before and after the procedures. Support prior to surgery includes comprehensive examinations. Ongoing care following surgery includes physician appointments, and monthly support groups to encourage healthy eating habits, exercise and other lifestyle changes.

“Not only are we focused on excellent clinical results in the surgical procedures we currently perform, we review outcomes, and explore opportunities through clinical research (internal and external) and other continuous improvement efforts, for even better outcomes and potential new surgical options for patients,” said Dr. Beltre.

To earn the MBSAQIP designation, the bariatric program at Orlando Health - Health Central met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity before and after surgery. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its processes and outcomes, identifying opportunities for continuous quality improvement.

The application process included an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon, who reviewed the center's structure, process, and clinical outcomes data.

The prevalence of obesity was 39.8 percent and affected about 93.3 million of U.S. adults in 2015-2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also reports obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer that are some of the leading causes of preventable, premature death.

“Obesity is an epidemic, and unfortunately it isn’t getting better,” said Dr. Beltre. “Weight loss surgery isn’t only about the numbers on the scale. Weight loss surgery can end diabetes in as little as two days. In addition, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can also go away for patients. Weight loss surgery is about becoming a healthier person as a whole – being aware of health, living better, and doing things once unable to do.”

In addition to the program accreditation, bariatric surgeons Dr. Beltre, and Lou Harold, MD, have been designated verified surgeons by the MBSAQIP.

Also, the Orlando Health Bariatric & Laparoscopy Center at Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) is accredited as a Comprehensive Center with Adolescent. The Orlando Health ORMC center’s bariatric surgeons Muhammad A. Jawad, MD, and Andre Teixeira, MD, have been designated verified surgeons by the MBSAQIP.