The bariatric surgery program supported by the Metabolic & Weight Management Center has again been accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

The Metabolic & Weight Management Center is a care collaboration between Pinehurst Medical Clinic, Pinehurst Surgical Clinic and FirstHealth of the Carolinas. Pinehurst Medical Clinic providers Alex Bonnecaze, M.D., board certified obesity medicine and endocrinology physician, Julie Baugher, M.D., board certified obesity medicine and internal medicine physician, Kristen Hockersmith, N.P. and Melissa Aubin, N.P., serve as part of the interdisciplinary team for the Metabolic & Weight Management Center offering medical weight management services to patients. 

MBSAQIP-Accredited centers offer preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for patients with obesity. The bariatric surgery program’s commitment to quality care begins with expertly trained staff and the leadership of experienced bariatric surgeons. General and bariatric surgeons with the Metabolic & Weight Management Center and Pinehurst Surgical Clinic, Raymond Washington, M.D. and David Grantham, M.D., have spearheaded the success of the bariatric program in the Sandhills region, which began in 1999 and has helped more than 2,000 weight-loss surgery patients over the years.

Dr. Washington, medical director for the bariatrics program, said he’s proud the program is among an elite group of accredited comprehensive centers. “To earn re-accreditation for an additional three years demonstrates the commitment of our entire team to uphold the highest

standards of quality care to support patients with obesity and ultimately improve their lives,” remarked Washington in a press release.

Dr. Grantham added that the accreditation is not only a professional achievement but a commitment to excellence. “Our focus is on providing top-notch care that leads to transformative changes for our patients,” stated Grantham in a press release.

To earn MBSAQIP Accreditation, the bariatric program must meet essential criteria for staffing, training, facility infrastructure and patient care pathways, ensuring its ability to support patients with obesity. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its surgical outcomes and identifying opportunities for quality improvement. The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, are published by the ACS and the ASMBS.

The bariatric centers undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviews the center’s structure, processes and clinical outcomes data. Metabolic and bariatric surgery has proven to be effective in the reduction of comorbid conditions related to obesity. Working together, the ACS and the ASMBS have developed accreditation standards for metabolic and bariatric surgery to assist patients with obesity in identifying centers that provide optimal patient care.

The Metabolic & Weight Management Center is located at 300 Pavilion Way, Suite 102 in Southern Pines. To learn more about the surgical and non-surgical weight management services offered at the Metabolic & Weight Management Center, visit www.WeightLossNC.org.