Choosing Bypass Surgery Requires Research

with Joseph Regan, M.D., Bariatric Surgeon, Columbia St. Mary’s

Posted: Jan. 1, 2006

Deciding to undergo gastric bypass surgery is a life altering event. It is important for patients to do research and educate themselves about the operation and the lifestyle changes that occur afterwards.

Part of that research and education should involve investigating the surgeons and program where the surgery is to be performed. It is critical to ensure that the surgeon has appropriate experience, and that the center has a program in place to provide for patient safety and the best chance for long-term success with weight loss and improved health.

One way to find a center meeting these criteria is to choose a program accredited as a “Center of Excellence” from the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Centers with this designation, such as The Bariatric Center at Columbia St. Mary’s, have met rigorous standards in the areas of hospital facilities and personnel and volume of surgeries performed. Several hundred bariatric procedures have now been performed by the surgeons at Columbia St. Mary’s, which is also recognized as a Center of Expertise by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Wisconsin.

The quality of a bariatric program also can be determined by the level of surgeon involvement. Ensuring that your surgeon participates in your care before, during, and after surgery is an important part of long-term success.

A dedicated team approach to the care of bariatric patients is also an essential part of the Columbia St. Mary’s bariatric surgery program. We emphasize each patient’s safety by providing a multidisciplinary team of specialists to guide each patient through the surgery process. These specialists include bariatric nurses, registered dietitians, psychiatrists, and physical therapists. We also have state of the art equipment and facilities designed specifically for bariatric patients.

In addition, part of ensuring long-term success after bariatric surgery is the support structure we have in place for patients. Involving multiple specialists in the care of these patients is part of that support structure. Our goal is to maintain contact and support with each of our patients for five years following surgery — a critical component in my opinion to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The Columbia St. Mary’s Bariatric Center also offers multiple support groups and programs to assist with the changes associated with surgery. Our support includes twice monthly support groups and a mentoring program to assist patients with the postoperative recovery period and beyond. The Weigh-to-Go program is a twice-weekly exercise class designed specifically for postoperative bariatric surgery patients.

If you are considering bariatric surgery, it is important to talk with your doctor, and begin researching the operation and associated lifestyle changes.

Joseph Regan, M.D.
2015 E. Newport Ave. Suite 305
Milwaukee, WI 53211
414-963-9415

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