MDNews - Greater Boston

B ARIATRIC SURGERY CAN be the first step toward sustained weight loss, but traveling significant distances for pre- and postoperative appoint- ments and support can prove daunting. During a typical three- to four-month preoperative evaluation and preparation period, patients see multiple specialists, attend support groups and informational sessions, and consult with surgeons to determine the most appropriate procedure, given their body habitus, comorbid condi- tions and eating habits. Steward Centers for Weight Control facilitate the process by offering readily accessible bariatric care at five of Steward Health Care's hospitals. Surgical proce- dures are performed at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center and Norwood Hospital — both ACS BSCN Level 1 fully accredited bariatric centers. Morton Hospital recently launched its bariatric surgery program and will perform surgeries on-site in the hospital's surgery center. And, the network extends far beyond these facili- ties. Weight-loss intake centers at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton and Holy Family Hospital in Methuen enable patients from a broader geographic expanse to access specialist care in their own backyards. "Many factors can prevent patients from traveling to Boston for every appointment," says Bruce Bodner, MD, FACS, general and bariatric surgeon at Morton Hospital. "The Steward Centers for Weight Control network helps patients successfully lose weight by making the resources they need available locally." Journey to Weight Loss "For many morbidly obese patients, reach- ing optimal weight is a hard-fought victory, possible only with the help of a team of specialists who provide support and coaching throughout a lifelong process," notes Nicole Pecquex, MD, Director of Bariatric Surgery at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center. "Yet the benefits are concrete and measurable. Bariatric surgery can significantly reduce obesity-related comorbidities, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea, and thus prolong lifespans by an average of seven years." At Steward Centers for Weight Control, a team of nutritionists, nurses, physical therapists, internal medicine physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists and surgeons shepherds each patient through the process. "There is no question that weight gain is multifactorial," says Adam Glasgow, MD, FACS, Director of the Norwood Hospital Weight Loss Surgery Program. "Some patients have hormonal or emotional issues, and some can't exercise because of arthritis. Losing weight is also multifactorial, and patients need a lot of support. Steward Centers for Weight Control provide all the tools patients need in conveniently accessible locations." The journey begins with informational sessions. Patients learn about the surgical weight-loss process from others who have navigated it successfully and from surgeons who perform the procedure. Following a thorough battery of medical examinations, as well as specialist appoint- ments related to existing comorbidities, patients are ready to prepare for surgery. BY MAKING THE FULL SPECTRUM OF BARIATRIC CARE LOCAL AND CONVENIENT, STEWARD HEALTH CARE GIVES AREA PATIENTS THE TOOLS THEY NEED FOR SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM WEIGHT LOSS. By Michael Ferguson Steward Health Care: Delivering Excellent Bariatric Care Closer to Home PHOTOS © RYAN RICHARDSON Bruce Bodner, MD, FACS Adam Glasgow, MD, FACS Anthony McCluney, MD Nicole Pecquex, MD 1 0 | Greater Boston MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M

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