A report released this week by HealthGrades® named Southcoast Hospitals Group among the top hospitals in the nation for bariatric surgery with a 5-star rating. HealthGrades found that bariatric surgery patients have a nearly 70 percent lower risk of experiencing an in-hospital complication at a top-rated hospitals such as Southcoast Hospitals Group compared to a poorly-rated hospital.

The findings are from HealthGrades 2011 Bariatric Surgery Trends in American Hospitals report which analyzed 193,518 bariatric surgery patient records from 2007 through 2009, including 468 hospitals in 19 states where data are publicly available. Local hospital ratings and study methodology are available to consumers at www.HealthGrades.com.

This makes the third consecutive year that Southcoast Hospitals Group has been 5-star rated (2009-2011). Southcoast Hospitals Group is also ranked second in Massachusetts in 2011 and is one of only three hospitals to be 5-star rated for three consecutive years.

The long‐term benefits of bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, include significant and sustainable long‐term weight loss, resolution of diabetes, reduction in cardiovascular disease risk, and decreased mortality. HealthGrades’ report helps patients identify long-term and short-term risks found in patients who opt for the surgery, and helps them identify the hospital programs in their area whose patient outcomes minimize the risks of such complications.

“As one of the largest weight loss centers in New England, the Southcoast Center for Weight Loss has successfully completed more than 2,300 weight loss procedures,” said Ray Kruger, MD, Director of Bariatric Surgery for Southcoast Hospitals Group, Bariatric Surgeon and a Center of Excellence Surgeon. “At Southcoast, you’ll be in regular contact with our team of experts in nutrition and exercise as well as psychologists and social workers who run weekly support groups to help you succeed. We recognize that making a change this big takes a team and it is our priority to help you achieve your goal of long-term weight loss.”

Dr. Kruger is part of Wareham Surgical Associates, part of Southcoast Physician Services, with Donald Colacchio, MD, and Thomas Streeter, MD, which has officially moved to its new location at Southcoast Medical at Rosebrook Park, the new medical office building at 100 Rosebrook Way in Wareham.

“Given the huge gap in quality between 5-star bariatric surgery programs and 1-star programs, choosing the right provider is critical,” said Rick May, MD, HealthGrades Vice President of Accelerated Clinical Excellence. “The decision to undergo major surgery is never an easy one and a procedure is never guaranteed to be complication-free. But with the help of HealthGrades bariatric surgery program ratings, patients can optimize their chances for receiving the highest possible quality of care.”

Southcoast Hospitals has been designated a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Southcoast’s community-based weight-loss program is designed to incorporate a thorough approach to weight loss surgery utilizing a team comprised of dietitians, psychologists and surgeons to provide a safe and comprehensive surgical weight loss program.  All surgeries are performed in Tobey Hospital’s surgical wing, which features the most up-to-date technology available. Minimally invasive procedures are performed in “I-Suites” which integrate computers, fiber optics and other state-of-the-art surgical tools, giving local residents access to the most advanced technology available anywhere.

Key findings of the HealthGrades 2011 Bariatric Surgery Trends in American Hospitals report include:

·  Patients having bariatric surgery at 5‐star hospitals are 69.7 percent less likely to experience in-hospital complications than patients at 1‐star programs.

·  Patients having a bariatric procedure at a 5‐star facility spent on average, a half-day less in the hospital than patients having their procedure at a 1‐star facility (1.93 days versus 2.38 days respectively).