Delnor Hospital achieves new obesity medicine accreditation

GENEVA – The Northwestern Medicine Metabolic Health and Surgical Weight Loss Center at Delnor Hospital is among the first in the state to achieve the new Obesity Medicine Qualification Accreditation by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, according to a news release from Northwestern Medicine.

The nationwide quality improvement program for the treatment of metabolic and bariatric patients recognizes centers that offer an integrated approach to weight loss.

Delnor Hospital’s bariatric surgery program earned MBSAQIP Comprehensive Center Accreditation in 2017, the release stated. The new Obesity Medicine Qualification Accreditation option provides an additional designation level for facilities that offer non-surgical treatment for patients who are overweight or obese. Centers with this designation employ nutritional interventions, physical activity, behavioral change, and pharmacotherapy to treat patients.

"This accreditation is validation of the multi-disciplinary approach our Center was founded on," stated Matthew R. Pittman, MD, medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Metabolic Health and Surgical Weight Loss Center at Delnor Hospital, in the release. "Successfully maintaining weight loss can't be done simply with a surgery or a pill. Obesity is a chronic disease process that requires a highly individualized program to help patients make a life-long commitment to a healthy diet and routine exercise."

According to the release, Northwestern Medicine’s non-surgical options include a meal replacement program that transitions to patients shopping and cooking healthy foods on their own; and a medical weight management program that combines weight loss medication, education, behavior modification, ongoing motivation and routine follow-up.

Additional sessions with a psychologist and exercise specialist are also incorporated as needed. Northwestern Medicine’s surgical options include gastric bypass, gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy.

"Our program begins with a thorough assessment by a board-certified physician and a registered dietitian to determine any underlying factors contributing to weight gain or an inability to lose weight," stated Elizabeth Lowden, MD, medical director of medical weight management at the Northwestern Medicine Metabolic Health and Surgical Weight Loss Center at Delnor Hospital, in the release. "Patients learn all the options and we discuss recommendations based on history, health condition, goals and BMI to assist the patient in determining what route is best for him or her."

The release states that obesity poses multiple health risks. Defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more, it can lead to chronic disability, poor quality of life and even premature death. Obesity is also associated with severe medical conditions such as degenerative joint disease, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, stroke, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and even certain cancers.

To learn more about the Northwestern Medicine Metabolic Health and Surgical Weight Loss Center at Delnor Hospital, visit https://westweightloss.nm.org/.