The UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery is proud to announce the recent international accreditation of the bariatric surgery services it offers at the UAB Hospital-Highlands campus.

Recently certified by the American College of Surgeons’ Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), the UAB Hospital-Highlands campus is now one of 1,000 centers across the United States and Canada that has undergone rigorous, voluntary review to ensure the highest standards of care and quality improvement.

In order to qualify for the prestigious distinction, the UAB Highlands Bariatric Clinic was required to fulfill the following criteria: 

• Investing in equipment, room renovations, and personnel training to meet the physical needs of patients suffering with Class III obesity, and to meet the stringent criteria specified by MBSAQIP to be a center.
• Completing 50 operations over a year (starting in Jul. 2022) before applying for accreditation. Prospective centers must demonstrate excellence in the preoperative education and selection of patients, operative outcomes that meet or exceed national standards, and vigorous postoperative follow up that encourages a healthy diet and lifestyle.
• After application review by the American College of Surgeons, a program-certified bariatric surgeon spent a day at the hospital inspecting it, interviewing the surgeons and staff who care for the patients, and reviewing the records of UAB Hospital - Highland’s bariatric surgery patients.

With this certification, UAB’s bariatric surgical centers at both the Main Campus and Highlands Campus have obtained the highest standard of review and care for patients.

“With over 40 years’ experience in bariatric surgery, our clinical and patient-facing teams are dedicated to providing our patients with a pathway to success to achieve their goals, while providing the most advanced and proven care possible,” says UAB Bariatric Surgery Medical Director Richard Stahl, M.D. “This accreditation marks a huge milestone in the development of our community footprint. We want every patient to feel confident in choosing UAB – a fully accredited facility receiving continuous feedback and training to provide the best patient care possible.”