Auburn Memorial Hospital's Fingerlakes Weight Loss Program has two feathers in its cap.
The program has seen a growth to an estimated 100 patients and has recently earned a designation as a bariatric center of excellence.
Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield has recognized AMH's program for meeting national standards adopted by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery.
The process of receiving the designation included a 25- to 30-page application, communications from several of the hospital's departments with Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield and a site visit from Excellus officials, said Christy VanOstrand, a registered nurse and the coordinator of AMH's weight loss program.
The site visit included Excellus assuring that the hospital has the right equipment in its surgical unit and recovery room to handle obese patients and that every hospital caretaker has the medical education and the sensitivity training to treat obese patients, VanOstrand said.
“Obesity has become epidemic in the United States,” VanOstrand said. “We really need to show everyone we need to work on this, not just ourselves but as a whole community.”
Dr. Chung Oh has been treating surgical bariatric patients for years at AMH, but the program has grown with the addition of VanOstrand, Dr. Wendy Scinta, director of the medical weight loss program and Dr. Carl Weiss III, director of the surgical weight loss program.
Dietitians and exercise physiologists also work with the program.
AMH officials learned after attending a conference in Las Vegas that their joint medical and surgical programs for obese patients is a unique model, VanOstrand said. She believes it's helpful to give patients the entire spectrum of options for weight loss.
To receive a BC/BS Bariatric Center of Excellence designation, Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield requires that a program demonstrate the ability of patients to maintain weight loss; meeting or exceeding national standards regarding the number of operations and death rates; supervised support groups; an optimal spectrum of equipment and consultation services for bariatric surgical candidates; and a dedicated staff to serve surgical patients.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield has recognized AMH's program for meeting national standards adopted by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery.
The process of receiving the designation included a 25- to 30-page application, communications from several of the hospital's departments with Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield and a site visit from Excellus officials, said Christy VanOstrand, a registered nurse and the coordinator of AMH's weight loss program.
The site visit included Excellus assuring that the hospital has the right equipment in its surgical unit and recovery room to handle obese patients and that every hospital caretaker has the medical education and the sensitivity training to treat obese patients, VanOstrand said.
“Obesity has become epidemic in the United States,” VanOstrand said. “We really need to show everyone we need to work on this, not just ourselves but as a whole community.”
Dr. Chung Oh has been treating surgical bariatric patients for years at AMH, but the program has grown with the addition of VanOstrand, Dr. Wendy Scinta, director of the medical weight loss program and Dr. Carl Weiss III, director of the surgical weight loss program.
Dietitians and exercise physiologists also work with the program.
AMH officials learned after attending a conference in Las Vegas that their joint medical and surgical programs for obese patients is a unique model, VanOstrand said. She believes it's helpful to give patients the entire spectrum of options for weight loss.
To receive a BC/BS Bariatric Center of Excellence designation, Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield requires that a program demonstrate the ability of patients to maintain weight loss; meeting or exceeding national standards regarding the number of operations and death rates; supervised support groups; an optimal spectrum of equipment and consultation services for bariatric surgical candidates; and a dedicated staff to serve surgical patients.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
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