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At St. Vincent's Center for Bariatric Surgery, a dedicated team keeps patients on track throughout their weight loss journey. Shown here are a few members of that team (L-R): Jen Delrio, Audrea Oaks, Mike Burger, Christine Miceli-Hahn and Christine Porter. PHOTO © SMITHBERGER PHOTOGRAPHY, NORTH CANTON 1 0C O V E R S T O R Y lo s s i s c on sider e d t o b e a l i felon g journey. The question is, how successful will that journey be with patients in remote locations? ST. VINCENT'S ECEN PL AN According to Dr. Hassan, there won't be any compromise in the way bariatric patients are taken care of, no matter where they live. " Pat ient s com i n g t o u s f rom a l l parts of the U.S. will have more online communication with us," he says. "But we will involve them right from the beginning, like we do with all of patients, and make sure they have access to all of the information they need to prepare for surgery and for the days, months and years after surgery." Dr. Hassan points out that some people think bariatric surgery is the easiest way to lose weight, but the truth is just the opposite. "Bariatric surgery is the most di³cult way to lose weight," he says. "Long-term success depends on a patient's compliance and dedication to a new lifestyle. So we want to make sure our patients have realistic expectations." A n educationa l sem i na r, of fered online and onsite, is the first step in understanding the surgical procedure and all before and after requirements. For those who decide to take the next step, there are three to nine months of presurgical preparation, depending on an individual's insurance requirements. "It 's important that patients are well infor med, suppor ted a nd motivated throughout their weight loss journey," says Ch r isti ne Miceli-Ha h n, PA- C, Clinica l Director of Ba riatric Surger y at St. Vincent's. "So we have a dedicated team in place, which includes bariatric s u r g e o n s , p h y s i c i a n a s s i s t a n t s , n u r s e s , d i e t i c i a n s , i n t e r n i s t s , a nest hesiolog ist s, pu l monolog ist s, psycholog ists a nd specia lists such as plastic surgeons. We a lso have patient advocates who help g uide each patient through the prog ra m." Patients a ³ liated with the ECEN prog r a m t r avel t o S t . Vi nc ent 's at the beg inning of the process to have basic lab work done and to meet with a ba r i at r ic s u r ge on , a d iet ici a n , a psycholog ist a nd a patient advocate. This usua lly ta kes a day and a ha lf. " We r e q u i r e a p s y c h o l o g i c a l eva luation for a ll patients, and that 's just to ma ke sure they understand and ca n follow through with the cha nges that they have to ma ke after bariatric surgery," Miceli-Ha hn explains. In the mea ntime, patients are kept i n f or m e d v i a on g oi n g d i r e c t a n d indirect communications, including an interactive website, patient education modules and newsletters. St . Vincent 's a lso pla ns to uti lize hea lthca re resources nea r patients' h o m e s f o r p r e - o p e d u c a t i o n a n d post-op ca re. This will be done on a limited basis and with the guidance of St. Vincent's bariatric surgery staž. It's what Dr. Perse refers to as the "hybrid part" of their ECEN program. "In fairness, this is a new program that we're piloting," Dr. Perse says. "So, I believe that at the onset, it will be somewhat dynamic. It's our intent to maintain those paradigms that have proved to be sa fe a nd successful for patients in our program. As the program evolves, we may be instituting models and then modifying them later to fit the needs of the patients and the dižerent cha llenges that are associated with a contract such as this." EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES Overall, Dr. Perse and Dr. Hassan are excited about the ECEN program, which is expected to increase bariatric surgery volumes at St. Vincent's by 25–50 percent. "I think it 's an opportunity to help more patients … to improve the health of a wider population," says Dr. Hassan. Dr. Perse anticipates the program will provide other opportunities, as well. "I'm a practicing surgeon, and I find that volume tends to build in inherent e f f i c i e n c i e s a n d i mpr o v e q u a l it y outcomes which, at St. Vincent's, are already very good," he says. I n f a c t , out c ome s a r e e xc e l lent according to t he A merica n Societ y for Metabolic a nd Ba riatric Surger y (ASMBS). The ASMBS has recognized St. Vincent's as a Center of Excellence for the past 10 years. "All in all, this is going to make us a better institution, and we're going to be able to provide better care for all of our patients," says Dr. Perse. "I firmly believe this." For more information about the Center of Bariatric Surgery at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, visit stvincentcharity.com or call 216-592-2801. ■ 1 0