Pascack Valley Medical Center meets all criteria as a MBSAQIP-Accredited Center, according to national quality standards established to deliver safe, high quality metabolic and bariatric patient care

WESTWOOD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 5, 2021: Today, Hackensack Meridian Pascack Valley Medical Center announced that its bariatric surgery program has been accredited as a Comprehensive Center 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 surgical treatment 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 Bergen County area,” said Amit Trivedi, MD chairman of the department of surgery and the metabolic and bariatric surgery director at Pascack Valley Medical Center. “The Pascack Valley medical center metabolic and bariatric surgery program is world-class, offering the safest and most innovative surgical solutions, including both traditional and robotic alternatives to weight loss surgery.”

Pascack Valley Medical Center’s commitment to quality care begins with expertly trained staff and the leadership of an experienced bariatric surgeon. The program is tasked with continuous review of surgical data as they continue improving the structure and outcomes expertise necessary to provide safe, efficient, and high-quality care to all metabolic and bariatric patients.

To earn MBSAQIP accreditation, Pascack Valley Medical Center 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 identifies opportunities for quality improvement. The MBSAQIP standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, are published by the ACS and the ASMBS.

“The metabolic and bariatric surgery program has grown immensely over the last few years,” said Emily Holliman, chief executive officer of Pascack Valley Medical Center. “This accreditation is a testament to our commitment to provide outstanding care to the local community in addition to growing our innovative offerings in our surgical suite including the Da Vinci and Senhance Surgical Systems. Residents in the Pascack Valley can be confident they are receiving safes and advanced care at our facility.”

After applying for MBSAQIP Accreditation, Pascack Valley Medical Center underwent 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, the types of procedures provided, and whether it provides care to patients under the age of 18.

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.

*Buchwald H, Avidor Y, Braunwald E, et al. Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2004;292(14):1724-1737. DOI:10.1001/jama.292.14.1724.

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About Hackensack Meridian Pascack Valley Medical Center
Pascack Valley Medical Center is a 128-bed, full-service, acute-care community hospital, located in Westwood, NJ providing the same nationally recognized quality care for which Hackensack Meridian Health is known. The hospital features, a brand new Emergency Department, state-of-the-art maternity center, a women’s imaging center, cardiac and pulmonary rehab, center for joint replacement, wound care center, and an intensive/critical care unit.

Pascack Valley Medical Center is also the only hospital in Bergen County with all private rooms at no additional cost to the patient. This inpatient hospital acts as an anchor to many in-demand, outpatient services such as radiology, women’s health and same day surgery. Find the kind of care you’ve been looking for at Pascack Valley Medical Center. For more, please visit www.PascackMedicalCenter.com

About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the quality of care for surgical patients. Its achievements have placed it at the forefront of American surgery and have made the College an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 82,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

About the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is the largest organization for metabolic and bariatric surgeons in the world, with more than 4,200 members. It is a not-for-profit organization that works to advance the science of metabolic and bariatric surgery. The ASMBS is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about metabolic and bariatric surgery, including the associated risks and benefits, as a treatment option for obesity.