BCBSNC findings on obesity surgeryHospital readmission rates and post–surgical complications are a significant concern with obesity surgery, sometimes known as bariatric surgery. BCBSNC launched its Bariatric Centers of Excellence in 2004 to identify providers meeting strict qualifications for performing the procedures. New findings from BCBSNC show the approach is working. The first year–results of the Centers of Excellence program show that complications are significantly lower if operating surgeons meet a strict standard of care. The results will appear in the September/October issue of Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases and are among the first nationally published peer–reviewed data showing the clinical advantages of a Centers of Excellence (COE) program. Listen for more details To hear more about the findings – and about what patients need to consider before undergoing obesity surgery – listen to a seven–minute conversation with Dr. Don Bradley, BCBSNC executive medical director.To save the file, right–click the link and select “Save Target As…” if you’re using Internet Explorer, or “Save Link As…” with the Firefox browser. Then, select where you’d like to save it, such as your desktop or a particular folder. After saving, when you double–click the file, it will play in your default media player. |