23 - Organizing a bariatric team

Summary

A comprehensive bariatric program requires appropriate infrastructure, educational and support programs. This chapter outlines the different facets of outpatient care including patient education and support as well as bariatric team members and data collection. Bariatric surgeons, like other surgical sub-specialists, should have an in depth understanding of the discipline's unique cognitive, technical, and administrative challenges. Some bariatric programs have chosen to include internists specialized in obesity medicine to manage the medical co-morbidities of their patients. A database of patient demographic information, comorbidities, operative interventions, postoperative complications and follow up would be invaluable for both research and continuous quality improvement. Accreditation programs have been developed by the ASC Bariatric Surgery Center network. The clinic provides the first impression of the bariatric program and is also the place where patients spend the greatest deal of time in both the pre-operative work up and subsequent post-operative follow up.