Lutheran Bariatric Center crosses new threshold with 1,500th surgery
11/8/2017
Decades of weight management and bariatric surgery experience offered
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Nov. 9, 2017) - The Lutheran Bariatric Center has surpassed 1,500 weight loss procedures, crossing a new threshold for a program that has helped patients regain their quality of life since 2005.
Weight reduction can aid in preventing other medical conditions, such as heart disease and orthopedic problems, by helping create a healthy lifestyle.
"Overall, obesity is a disease, not a choice, and we need to change how we think about this subject" said Dale Sloan, M.D., surgical medical director of the Lutheran Bariatric Center. "What sets our program apart from others is the ongoing support and education both before and long after surgery."
Patients preparing for one of the four surgical options offered by the bariatric center are required to participate in weekly preoperative behavioral and dietary classes for a month prior to surgery, as well as periodic physician and nurse visits. Follow-up visits are more frequent within the first year, then level off to an annual basis.
"We educate our patients extensively before and after their surgery so they know what to expect every step of the way," said Chris Rich, R.N., manager of Lutheran's bariatric and weight management centers. "If a surgical procedure for weight loss turns out to be the best choice for patients, we support them well beyond just their stay at the hospital.
"We have a team alongside them including dieticians, behaviorists, exercise specialists, another physician certified in obesity medicine, and others to provide ongoing support. A critical ingredient for success is the lifetime of free monthly support group meetings and exercise classes."
The four surgical options offered through the Lutheran Bariatric Center are Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, duodenal switch and stomach intestinal pylorus-sparing surgery. All of these options are minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures, which typically helps reduce the patient's length of stay in the hospital.
The Lutheran Weight Management Center offers several nonsurgical options for weight management as well.
The Lutheran Bariatric Center is accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program®, a joint program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Questions about weight loss options should be directed to (260) 435-7844, option 1. The public is welcome to attend a free session about services available through the Lutheran bariatric and weight management centers. Additional information can be found online at LutheranHospital.com/weight-management.
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