FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               

10/10/06   

CONTACT: Leisha Harris

205-599-4926

Trinity Medical Center Named Center of Excellence

Birmingham, AL – Trinity Medical Center, an affiliate of Baptist Health System, and Drs. William Scott Pennington and John G. Touliatos of Advanced Surgeons PC, have been named an American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. The ASBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery.

According to a study released in July 2005 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of U.S. bariatric surgeries more than quadrupled between 1998 and 2002- from 13,386 to 71,733. Faced with clinical evidence that the most experienced and best-run bariatric surgery programs have by far the lowest rates of complications, the ASBS Centers of Excellence program was created to recognize bariatric surgery centers that perform well and to help surgeons and hospitals continue to improve the quality and safety of care provided.

To earn a Center of Excellence designation, Trinity Medical Center and Drs. Pennington and Touliatos underwent a series of site inspections during which all aspects of the program’s surgical processes were closely examined and data on health outcomes was collected. Trinity, Drs. Pennington and Touliatos, and other centers receiving the Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence designation agree to continue to share information on clinical pathways, protocols and outcomes data.

“Becoming a Center of Excellence for bariatric surgery in Birmingham confirms our dedication to providing the highest quality of care for the bariatric patient,” said Dr. John Touliatos, general surgeon.  “We are very excited about this designation and look forward to the future of bariatric surgery at Trinity Medical Center.”

“Trinity’s designation as a Center of Excellence will give bariatric patients the assurance that they will receive the best possible care,” said Vicki Briggs, CEO of Trinity Medical Center. “I have personally known a number of people who have had surgery after fighting obesity for years. The difference it made in their health and their outlook on life has caused me to be an advocate for bariatric surgery when circumstances warrant it.”

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Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an organization dedicated to pursuing surgical excellence, formulated and established the rigorous standards with which Trinity, Drs. Pennington and Touliatos, and other Centers of Excellence must comply, thoroughly inspects and evaluates each candidate for designation, and upon review recommends approval of designation for those physicians and facilities whose practices and outcomes meet the stringent demands set forth by SRC for ASBS.

Obesity has become a significant national health issue, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that 64 percent of all U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Morbid obesity is closely correlated with a number of serious conditions that severely undermine the health of overweight patients, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Bariatric surgery, when performed correctly, can help obese patients manage these conditions. By definition, surgeons with ASBS Center of Excellence designations practice only top-quality care, ensuring efficacy of the procedure with each patient to the best of their abilities.

As a pioneering organization, designating Centers of Excellence based on top quality care and efficacious outcomes, the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, with the help of SRC, Is working to align the common interests of patients, surgeons, hospitals and insurers, all of who suffer when complications develop after surgical care.

About the American Society for Bariatric Surgery

The American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) is the largest society for this specialty in the world. Founded in 1983, foremost American surgeons have formed the society’s leadership and have established an excellent organization with educational and support programs for surgeons and allied health professionals. The purpose of the society is to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery by continued encouragement of its members to: pursue investigations in both the clinic and the laboratory; interchange ideas, information and experience pertaining to bariatric surgery; promote guidelines for ethical patient selection and care; develop educational programs for physicians, paramedical persons, and lay people; and promote outcome studies and quality assurance. For more information about ASBS, please visit www.asbs.org.

About Surgical Review Corporation

Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) is an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to surgical excellence. SRC’s mission is to promote the delivery of surgical care with the highest levels of efficacy, efficiency, and safety possible. For more information about SRC or to download a Center of Excellence application, please visit www.surgicalreview.org.

About Trinity Medical Center

Trinity Medical Center (formerly Montclair Baptist) is a 560-bed, tertiary care hospital located in Birmingham, AL.  The hospital opened its doors in 1966 as a replacement facility for the Highland Avenue Baptist Hospital.

Today, Trinity Medical Center offers programs and services in all medical and surgical areas.  This includes cardiology, oncology, neurology, women’s health, mental health, digestive diseases, geriatrics, physical medicine and rehab, sports medicine and emergency care.  There are more than 600 physicians on the Trinity medical staff representing 30 specialties and subspecialties.

In 2005, a Joint Venture between Baptist Health System and Triad Hospitals, Inc. was formed to address the capital needs of Trinity Medical Center.  Triad assumed 65% ownership and managing-partner status of the hospital with Baptist Health System retaining 35% ownership.

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