California Pacific Medical Center Named Center of Excellence by American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

SAN FRANCISCO -- California Pacific Medical Center has been deemed a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. For our patients, this designation means that while complications are possible in any surgery, the rate of complications from surgery performed at a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence are extremely low.

To become a Center of Excellence, California Pacific, along with the Bariatric Surgery Services program and its bariatric surgeons, met a comprehensive set of criteria and went through an extensive evaluation. According to the Bariatric Surgery Services Medical Director, John J. Feng, MD, FACS, "The Bariatric Surgery Program at CPMC must demonstrate its competence in efficient and complete care of patients with emphasis on optimizing good outcomes."

Bariatric surgery, designed to reduce a patient's stomach size, which results in less food intake and substantial weight loss, is considered by many to be the only long-term effective therapy to treat morbid obesity and the many debilitating conditions it can cause. Although there are risks with any surgery, patients often find that the benefits of improved health and quality of life far outweigh the risks.

Patients must be considered "morbidly obese," or about 100 lbs. over ideal body weight, to be a candidate for bariatric surgery. Additionally, they must have attempted and failed other medically-supervised weight loss methods, and be committed to making permanent eating and lifestyle changes before being considered eligible.

Obesity in America

According to 1999-2002 data obtained from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 129 million Americans ages 20 - 74 are overweight. This means 65% of adults in America are overweight and of this 65%, 31% are obese. Measured using the Body Mass Index (BMI), a person who has a BMI of 25 or higher is considered overweight, while a person who has a BMI of 30 or greater is considered obese. Also according to the CDC, over 15% of children are obese, with another 15% at risk for becoming obese.

Weight Related Health Risk Factors

Being overweight puts a person at a high risk for developing numerous health conditions that compromise not only their quality of life, but also life expectancy. These conditions include:

--Cancer (uterine, breast, colorectal, kidney, and gallbladder)

--Diabetes

--Gallbladder disease

--Heart disease

--Hypertension

--Joint disease

--Sleep apnea and other breathing problems

--Stroke

About California Pacific's Bariatric Surgery Services

California Pacific's Bariatric Surgery Services offer the most comprehensive surgical weight loss program in Northern California, featuring Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Laparoscopic Duodenal Switch, Laparoscopic Vertical Gastrectomy and Lap-Band(TM) procedures. Questions can be directed to the Bariatric Surgery Services Coordinator at [phone].

About California Pacific Medical Center

California Pacific Medical Center, a Sutter Health affiliate, is one of the largest private, not-for-profit teaching medical centers in California. We are a tertiary referral center providing access to leading-edge medicine while delivering the best possible personalized care. CPMC provides a wide variety of services, including acute, post-acute and outpatient hospital care; home care and hospice services; preventive and complementary care; and health education. Through our Medical Education Program and our Research Institute, physicians at California Pacific Medical Center are able to bring health care innovation to the bedside.