Your Center of Excellence

When you arrive at the Metabolic Surgery Center at Baptist Hospital, you become a part of our family. This is your chance to embark on the personal journey towards the health and happiness you’ve always dreamed possible. Rest assured you won’t be traveling alone.

What does it mean to be a Center of Excellence?
Hospitals and surgeons must qualify for designation as a ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by participating in a rigorous evaluation process documenting their comprehensive program. The qualification process includes specific program requirements establishing safe bariatric surgical care as well as with excellent short and long-term outcomes. The accreditation process not only tracks and measures results but also evaluates the complete documentation process, equipment, supplies, distinguished surgical expertise, trained bariatric personnel as well as the availability of consulting services.

The Metabolic Surgery Center at Baptist Hospital is an accredited ASBMS Center of Excellence. Furthermore, each of our renowned surgeons, Dr. Charles Morton, Dr. Al Spaw, Dr. George Lynch and Dr. James McDowell have each attained ASMBS Certification of Excellence as well.

Our Program
This is your chance to embark on the personal journey towards the health and happiness that you've always dreamed possible. Rest assured, you won't be traveling alone.

The Metabolic Surgery Center at Baptist Hospital is one of the premier weight loss surgery programs in the nation, providing patients with four proven surgical options to correct metabolic deficiencies: Lap-Band® (laparoscopic adjustable gastric band), Gastric Sleeve (sleeve gastrecomy), Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Duodenal Switch.

There are many reasons to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Some people have serious health concerns. Others want to feel better about their appearance. Many are simply tired of the burden of being overweight and want to improve their quality of life. We strive to empower every individual to succeed at their unique challenges of losing and controlling their weight.

Once you visit the Metabolic Surgery Center at Baptist Hospital you'll be joining a community of people who truly want to see you succeed. The renowned surgeons, Drs. Charles Morton, Al Spaw, George Lynch and James McDowell, nurses, exercise and nutritional experts as well as over 10,000 patients just like you. Through combined surgical and institutional expertise, as well as over 10 years of experience--you'll discover why the Metabolic Surgery Center at Baptist Hospital is a recognized American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence.

WHAT IS METABOLIC SURGERY? IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
Metabolic and bariatric surgery currently provide one of the most effective therapies for diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, arthritis, asthma, acid reflux, infertility and high cholesterol. Such operation performed by one of our highly trained surgeons at Baptist Metabolic Surgery Center can often restore the health of the morbidly obese individual by the correction of abnormal metabolism.

The Disease of Morbid Obesity
Although Morbid Obesity is defined as being approximately 100 pounds or more above ideal body weight, it remains a complex chronic disease that is poorly understood by most people. This level of obesity is referred to as "morbid" because of its life threatening affect on virtually every bodily organ, not to mention the often disabling social and psychological consequences. In addition to pounds over weight, the degree of obesity is also measured by body mass index (BMI).

Rationale for Weight Loss Surgery
Because this disease extremely limits the quality of ones life and bears a greater risk for premature death, the National Institutes of Health held a conference to discuss surgical approaches for obesity and reported, "the benefits outweigh the risk." During this consensus the National Institutes of Health report concluded that "diets, exercise programs, appetite suppressants and behavior modifications are not effective therapies for the morbidly obese person". In addition, this medical panel reported that this more aggressive approach is reasonable in individuals who strongly desire substantial weight loss and have life-threatening, co-morbid conditions.

% of Co-Morbidities Usually Resolved After Bariatric Surgery
Following successful weight loss surgery most patients will experience, greater than or equal to, the following reductions:

Begin your Journey today, with your first step. Since the decision to undergo weight loss surgery is a major one, it is our desire that you be fully informed about the risks as well as the benefits of surgery. We offer several options to get started:

• Call today to speak with a member of our team to get started at (615)284-2400
• Or come and see us. We accept new patient walk-ins Monday through Friday (8:00am-3:30pm)
• Or register for a seminar or if you have any questions, please call (615) 284-2400