UAB reaccredited for metabolic, bariatric surgery accreditation and quality improvement program

The accredidation is given to bariatric surgery centers that have undergone an independent, voluntary and rigorous peer evaluation.The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Surgery has received reaccreditation for the American College of Surgeons Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program.

MBSAQIP accredits inpatient and outpatient bariatric surgery centers in the United States and Canada that have undergone an independent, voluntary and rigorous peer evaluation in accordance with nationally recognized bariatric surgical standards.

“Our team works diligently to provide the best care and resources possible to our patients,” said Richard Stahl, M.D., professor and director of Bariatric Surgery in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. “The reaccreditation process helps ensure that we’re operating at the best of our abilities and lets us know what we’re doing well and where we can grow."

The MBSAQIP accreditation not only promotes uniform standard benchmarks, but also supports continuous quality improvement. To receive approval, centers are required to submit an application, a pre-review questionnaire and have a site visit. To maintain the credentials, institutions must repeat the PRQ and site visit every three years.

“MBSAQIP reaccreditation is certainly a milestone to celebrate,” said Herbert Chen, M.D., Fay Fletcher Kerner Endowed Chair of the Department of Surgery. “The hard work our team has invested in this process has not gone unnoticed, and I look forward to seeing the progress we continue to make in the next three years.”