Bassett Earns Prestigious Recognition For Weight Loss Surgery Program

Cooperstown, N.Y. — Bassett Healthcare Network has once again been designated as a Center of Excellence for its weight loss surgery program by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), a sub-group of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the largest society in the world dedicated exclusively to bariatric (weight loss) surgery. Bassett is one of 32 hospitals in New York State to achieve Center of Excellence status. Every three years, the ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence program recognizes institutions that demonstrate an unparalleled commitment and ability to consistently deliver safe and effective care. 

“This is one of the highest honors a hospital program can receive and it reflects on the combined efforts of the entire organization as well as the weight loss surgery team,” said Chief of Surgery Steven Heneghan, M.D., medical director of Bassett’s weight loss surgery program. “Being re-certified as a Center of Excellence recognizes that Bassett’s program is among the best in the country and that we demonstrate sustained excellence in the care of our patients.”

Two of Bassett’s bariatric surgeons, Stephanie Strauss-Oceguera, M.D., and James Longhi, D.O., also earned Center of Excellence designation this year, noted Dr. Heneghan, who was designated a Center of Excellence surgeon when Bassett was first recognized by the ASMBS in 2008.

For a hospital’s weight loss surgery program to be designated as a Center of Excellence, the hospital must perform at least 125 weight loss surgeries per year, and there needs to be demonstrated exceptional standards of care and treatment of the surgical patient.

The SRC selection process examines the entire patient experience, including care given by a dedicated bariatric team consisting of surgeons, nurses, nutritionists, psychologists and exercise physiologists; and reviews educational material and patient support provided to patients. The bariatric team must also report long-term patient outcomes and undergo on-site inspections.

Bassett’s designation as a Center of Excellence also means the program will be able to provide care for patients with Medicare insurance, as well as other major health insurances, who are candidates for weight loss surgery. The weight loss surgery program offers “lap band” and laparoscopic gastric bypass procedures to help obese patients achieve the ultimate goal of improved health with the resultant weight loss.

For more information about Bassett’s weight loss surgery program, call 607-547-3373, or type in the words “bariatric surgery” in the key word search area of bassett.org.