"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 Wayne Weiss, M.D., medical director of Bassett's weight loss surgery program. "Being designated as a Center of Excellence recognizes that Bassett's program is among the best in the country and that we demonstrate sustained excellence in care."

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 selection as a Center of Excellence also means the program will be able to provide care for patients with Medicare insurance 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.

Bassett Healthcare

Bassett Healthcare is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and a leading provider of health services in the central New York region. Bassett offers quality primary and specialty care services targeted to address this region's health care needs.

For more information about Bassett, visit www.bassett.org.