Marysville hospital receives accreditations for weight loss, heart health services

Robert Summa, Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, Calif.
·3 min read

Mar. 29—Officials with Adventist Health/Rideout Hospital in Marysville recently announced that the nonprofit health care provider received accreditations for treatments related to weight loss and heart health.

According to the National Library of Medicine, accreditation is a program in which "trained external peer reviewers evaluate a healthcare organization's compliance and compare it with pre-established performance standards." In essence, a hospital's accreditation can mean that any related service is resulting in a higher level of performance with a greater focus on patient care.

This week, officials with the hospital achieved several accreditations for services that it offers. On Thursday, the Bariatric Surgery Center officially received accreditation as a "Comprehensive Bariatric Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery."

The hospital said this was a "significant achievement" because the center received an initial accreditation as a "Low Acuity Center" in 2020.

The Mayo Clinic said bariatric surgery involves gastric bypass and other types of weight-loss surgery to help patients lose weight.

"Bariatric surgery is done when diet and exercise haven't worked or when you have serious health problems because of your weight. Some weight-loss procedures limit how much you can eat. Others work by reducing the body's ability to absorb fat and calories. Some procedures do both," according to the Mayo Clinic. "While bariatric surgery can offer many benefits, all forms of weight-loss surgery are major procedures that can pose risks and side effects. Also, you must make permanent healthy changes to your diet and get regular exercise to help ensure the long-term success of bariatric surgery."

Officials said the accreditation process for the Bariatric Surgery Center involved a "thorough review of the center's practices, ensuring compliance with nationally recognized standards." The center successfully met the "stringent criteria, demonstrating its commitment to excellence in patient care and outcomes."

This accreditation positions the Marysville hospital as a "leading provider in metabolic and bariatric surgery," officials said.

"Receiving our Comprehensive Center accreditation from MBSAQIP is a testament to the dedication of our multidisciplinary team to deliver the highest standard of care for individuals seeking surgical weight loss solutions," Dr. Arturo Garcia, medical director of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at Adventist Health/Rideout, said in a statement. "This recognition reinforces our commitment to expanding our service line and better serving the needs of our community in the future."

Along with the bariatric accreditation, the hospital also received accreditation for its echocardiography services from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission, officials announced on Friday.

"An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart," according to the Mayo Clinic. "This common test can show blood flow through the heart and heart valves. Your health care provider can use the pictures from the test to find heart disease and other heart conditions."

Officials said the accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission recognizes the Marysville hospital's "adherence to rigorous quality and patient care standards."

"This recognition reflects the unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise of our echocardiography team," Jeff Ford, director of Cardiopulmonary Services, said in a statement. "This accreditation is not just a recognition of our past accomplishments but also a catalyst for our future endeavors in advancing cardiovascular health in our community."