Southeast achieves accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program

Pasadena, Texas — HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast announced today that it has been accredited as a Comprehensive Center with Obesity Medicine Qualifications 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).

Patients seeking options 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 Southeast Harris County area. HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast’s commitment to quality care begins with expertly trained staff and the leadership of an experienced bariatric medical director. The program is tasked with continuous review of 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.

To earn MBSAQIP Accreditation, HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast 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, and the types of procedures provided.

“HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast is proud to be among the elite number of facilities in the area that have been rated as an Accredited Comprehensive Center with Obesity Medicine Qualifications by the MBSAQIP,” said Yasmene McDaniel, CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast. “This means our bariatrics team has demonstrated compliance with the MBSAQIP’s Standards and are dedicated to providing high-quality, patient-centered care. We are committed to being a lifestyle educator, a skilled medical partner, and a trusted support team as our patients continue on their weight loss journey.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 93 million adults in the United States are affected by obesity and that number continues to increase. The disease of obesity increases the risks of morbidity and mortality because of the diseases and conditions that are commonly associated with it, such as type II diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, among other health risks. Metabolic and bariatric surgery has proven to be effective in the reduction of comorbid conditions related to obesity. Working together, the ACS and the ASMBS have developed accreditation standards for metabolic and bariatric surgery to assist patients with obesity in identifying centers that provide optimal patient care.