Bariatric Services
Mountainside Hospital is home to a new Bariatric Surgery Program. Specifically designed to meet the Center of Excellence criteria established by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS), the program will provide patients with a proven way to control obesity. The ASBS awards the Center of Excellence designation to those hospitals that meet their strict set of guidelines regarding surgical procedures and patient care techniques.
Under the leadership of Karl Strom, MD, Director of Bariatric Surgery at Mountainside Hospital, the hospital is undergoing many changes to meet ASBS criteria and the special needs of obese patients. “Along with assembling an exceptional team, many physical changes are being made to the hospital building itself, and we are bringing in specialized equipment designed to care for the special needs of our patients,” explains Dr. Strom.
As a patient-centered program, all bariatric surgery candidates will have access to a panel of experienced specialists, including cardiologists, pulmonologists, endocrinologists, surgeons, nutritionists, behavioral health experts, and others who will educate and evaluate patients before surgery and offer post-operative and follow-up care and education.
“Our approach is to care for our patients as a team so each and every patient can receive the maximum benefit and the highest level of care,” says Dr. Strom.
Anyone considering bariatric surgery may attend a FREE seminar presented by Dr. Strom. “Candidates should discuss the surgery with their primary physician, who can refer the patient to our program,” says Dr. Strom. “Once here, we will work with each patient and provide them with an individualized evaluation to determine if bariatric surgery is an appropriate option for them."
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