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NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital has been accredited under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), a joint program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, in the treatment of pediatric bariatric surgical patients. NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital is the only stand-alone children’s hospital in New York State to hold this designation, accredited as an Adolescent Center, and one of only six in the nation.

“We are constantly striving to enhance patient care and achieve the best possible outcomes,” said Dr. Jeffrey L. Zitsman, founder and director of the Center for Adolescent Bariatric Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and professor of surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “This accreditation speaks to the commitment of our staff and our team, and the quality of care we provide every day.”

The MBSAQIP standards ensure that pediatric bariatric surgical patients receive not just a surgical procedure but multidisciplinary treatment services, which improve patient outcomes and long-term success by promoting quality control. Experts in pediatric gastroenterology, endocrinology, nutrition and psychiatry, among other specialties are available to young, overweight patients. NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital offers pre- and post-operative care designed specifically for severely obese pediatric patients through the Center for Adolescent Bariatric Surgery, which met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care. The hospital also collects data for research purposes and studies the best uses and outcomes of bariatric surgery in adolescents.

Centers seeking MBSAQIP undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon, who reviews the center's resources, process and clinical outcomes data. Adolescent centers are awarded a specific designation depending on how many patients are served annually, the types of procedures provided, and whether they offer care for patients under 18 years old.

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 1 in 5 people ages 12-19 in the United States have obesity, and the numbers continue to increase. A 2004 study published in JAMA showed that metabolic and bariatric surgical procedures reduce obesity, improve mortality and decrease the risks for developing chronic diseases like cardiomyopathy and diabetes. Bariatric surgery is widely regarded as an effective treatment for obesity.