Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital has been designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS).

The hospital has achieved the ASBS designation in recognition of its optimal level of performance and exceptional patient outcomes for bariatric surgery.

Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital received the designation for a maximum three-year term which is reserved for those applicants who not only meet all requirements, but also exceed the requirements for Full Approval in most or all respects.

To earn the ASBS Center of Excellence designation, the hospital underwent a rigorous process entailing 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.

"We congratulate the entire bariatric health care team for their consistent level of outstanding work that has earned them the distinction of the ASBS Center of Excellence designation," says Terry Wheeler, cheif executive officer, at Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital.

Recognized as an extremely serious disease that compromises quality of life and increases the risk of death, morbid obesity is characterized by individuals having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40.

Founded in 1983, the ASBS is the largest society for bariatric surgery in the world committed to providing surgeons and allied health professionals with educational and support programs.