General Surgery

Marshfield Clinic physicians and Saint Joseph’s Hospital earn Bariatric Surgery Center Of Excellence® designation

Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence seal

Marshfield Clinic Marshfield Center surgeons Vijaya Nirujogi, M.D., and Timothy Wengert, M.D., and Saint Joseph’s Hospital have been designated an American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS)® Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence.

The ASMBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery.

To earn the ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® designation, programs must adhere to rigorous standards established by Surgical Review Corporation (S.R.C.), an organization dedicated to pursuing surgical excellence. The S.R.C. thoroughly inspects and evaluates each candidate for designation and upon review recommends approval of designation for those physicians and facilities whose practices and outcomes meet the stringent demands set forth by S.R.C. for ASMBS.

Team approach

The bariatric surgery program at the Marshfield campus is led by a multidisciplinary team of professionals including surgeons, nurses, dietitians, psychologists, therapists and physician assistants. The bariatric team works closely with primary care and numerous subspecialists in areas such as sleep medicine, pulmonology, gastroenterology and cardiology to provide comprehensive care tailored to each patient’s individual needs.

“Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States and is far more dangerous than many people realize because it increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and various cancers,” said Marvin Kuehner, M.D., Division medical director. “Earning ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® recognition assures patients that Marshfield Clinic Marshfield Center surgeons on staff at Saint Joseph’s Hospital and the Bariatric team adhere to the highest standards of care and that the program has a proven track record of providing quality bariatric services to patients.”

“Bariatric surgery is the most effective weight loss method for those who are 100 pounds or more overweight and can significantly improve health and well-being,” said Wengert. Certain obesity-related medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and reflux disease are improved and for some, completely reversed with significant weight-loss after bariatric surgery. In addition to the health benefits, most patients feel better and have more self-confidence than they did before having bariatric surgery. Patients also report spending more time doing recreational and physical activities.

30-year track record

Marshfield Clinic has been performing bariatric surgery at Saint Joseph’s Hospital for more than 30 years and tailors the procedures specifically to suit each patient.

Nirujogi and Wengert are experienced in both traditional and laparoscopic surgical techniques, and offer Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding (more commonly known as LAP-BAND® surgery) gastric sleeve resection and biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch procedures.

The entry point into the bariatric surgery program in Marshfield is attending a free educational orientation session. At an orientation session, participants meet the surgeons and learn about preparing for the surgery, risks and benefits of each procedure and find out what life is like following surgery.

“All candidates for bariatric surgery must go through a thorough evaluation process. This includes psychological testing and an education process to make sure candidates meet strict criteria,” said Wengert. “Bariatric surgery requires a major commitment to lifestyle and dietary changes that make for a successful long-term outcome.”

Patient evaluation

Psychological testing and evaluation is done to help patients determine certain behaviors or other issues which could interfere with or limit their weight loss. It is important to identify potential barriers before-hand, and help patients work through them, so they are better prepared to deal with them after surgery. The process can also include bringing in family members so they can understand the process and better support patients.

“I’ve had family members of patients who ask if bariatric surgery is just the easy way out of a weight problem,” Wengert said. “It’s not an easy thing to do. It takes a lot of courage. Some people decide after hearing what is involved that it is not for them. But for those who do decide to follow through, bariatric surgery can improve their quality of life.”

Long-term success requires a tremendous amount of commitment from the patient, and support from family and friends is very important. Having bariatric surgery isn’t the end of the patient’s weight management program; rather, it’s the beginning of a lifelong journey to manage a healthy weight and the benefits that come with it.

Bariatric surgery support group meetings are offered twice a month for patients who are preparing for or have completed bariatric surgery, as well as for their family members and friends.

For more information

For more information about Marshfield Clinic’s bariatric surgery program, or to inquire about orientation sessions, call 715-387-9220 or 1-800-782-8581 ext 79220.

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is the largest society for this specialty in the world. Founded in 1983, foremost American surgeons have formed the society’s leadership and have established an excellent organization with educational and support programs for surgeons and allied health professionals. The purpose of the society is to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery by continued encouragement of its members to: pursue investigations in both the clinic and the laboratory; interchange ideas, information and experience pertaining to bariatric surgery; promote guidelines for ethical patient selection and care; develop educational programs for physicians, paramedical persons, and lay people; and promote outcome studies and quality assurance. For more information about ASMBS, go to www.ASMBS.org.

Surgical Review Corporation (S.R.C.) is an independent, non-profit organization governed by industry stakeholders and dedicated to advancing the safety, efficacy and efficiency of bariatric and metabolic surgical care worldwide. To accelerate best practices development for the treatment of morbid obesity and its associated conditions, SRC launched center of excellence programs for bariatric surgery and developed the Bariatric Outcomes Longitudinal Database (BOLD). SRC has already designated nearly 650 surgeons as well as more than 350 hospitals and freestanding outpatient facilities, and BOLD is now the world’s largest repository of clinical bariatric surgery patient data. For more information, visit www.surgicalreview.org.

Return to Bariatric Surgery.