FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. – Patients seeking surgical treatment for obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving care at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality in the greater Orange County area.

MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center has announced that the MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center was reaccredited as a Comprehensive Center 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).

The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, ensure that metabolic and bariatric patients receive multidisciplinary medical care, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. MBSAQIP-Accredited centers offer preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for patients with obesity.

It is an honor for us to be recognized for our ability to provide safe and effective surgical care to our patients. In fighting this worldwide epidemic, we are working diligently to remain on the leading edge of surgical techniques and post operative care to ensure the best results for our patients.

Mir B. Ali, M.D., medical director of the MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center

To earn MBSAQIP Accreditation, the center met essential 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 identifying 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, centers undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviews the center's structure, processes, and clinical outcomes data. Centers that earn accreditation are awarded a specific designation level, depending on how many patients it serves annually, critical care capabilities, the types of procedures provided, and whether it provides care to patients under the age of 18.

The center’s commitment to quality care begins with expertly trained staff and the leadership of a highly-experienced bariatric surgeon such as Dr. Ali. The program is tasked with continuous review of surgical data as they continue improving the structure and outcomes expertise necessary to provide safe, efficacious, and high-quality care to all metabolic and bariatric patients.

This accreditation is a testament to our highly-skilled and experienced team of physicians and nurses at the MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center who are dedicated to improving the health of our served communities. In tandem with our expert bariatric surgeons, we will continue to work tirelessly to provide our patients with the gold standard for comprehensive bariatric care.

Marcia Manker, CEO of Orange Coast Medical Center

For more information about the MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center or to schedule an appointment, please call 877-HEALTHY or visit memorialcare.org/WeightLoss.