Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital has been named a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® through the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The ASMBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery.

"This designation is a testimonial to the deep commitment that we have toward the care of severely obese patients," said Dr. Jeffrey Rosen, who was appointed director of the bariatric program in July.

To earn a Center of Excellence designation, Good Samaritan Hospital underwent a stringent and comprehensive site inspection during which all aspects of the program's surgical processes were closely scrutinized for compliance with national benchmarks for both quality and safety.

Good Samaritan Hospital's bariatric program works in conjunction with LifeWeigh Bariatrics in Downers Grove. LifeWeigh Bariatrics is a multidisciplinary program that specializes in surgical and non-surgical weight loss. Patients are provided lifestyle coaching from a team of exercise physiologists, dieticians and psychologists. Focusing on wellness ensures the needed support for long-term weight loss and a healthy lifestyle.

"I feel this opens a doorway for more patients that need help in lifestyle changes and weight loss surgery," Dr. Rosen said. "This is a great building block that we know is only the beginning for the surgical weight loss program at LifeWeigh Bariatrics and Good Samaritan Hospital."

Obesity has become a significant national health issue, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that 66 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, along with proper follow-up care, can help obese patients manage these conditions.

Hospitals with ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® designation provide top quality care. Good Samaritan Hospital's experienced surgeons perform the most advanced and proven weight loss surgical procedures, including LAP-BAND®, gastric bypass and gastric sleeve procedures.

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is the largest society for this specialty in the world. For more information about ASMBS, please visit www.ASMBS.org.

Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, is in constant pursuit of ways to provide excellent care. In the last 30 years, it has evolved from a 333-bed community hospital to a recognized leader in health care. Today, Good Samaritan Hospital boasts awards for superior patient care in cardiology, gastroenterology, stroke care, women's health and behavioral health. Deemed one of the nation's 100 Top Hospitals® in a 2008 study by Thomson Reuters, it features DuPage County's only Level 1 trauma center and a certified Level III neonatal intensive care unit. Good Samaritan Hospital is part of Advocate Health Care, one of the top health care systems in the country and largest fully integrated health care delivery system in Illinois.

To find a doctor or schedule an appointment at Good Samaritan Hospital, call 1-800-3ADVOCATE.