Weight Management for Professionals & Dieters

The (Grey's) Anatomy of Bariatric Surgery

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“Did you know that Bariatric Centers are some of the leading moneymakers in hospitals right now, Dr. Bailey?”

Happy Friday! For a few of us here at Robard, Friday mornings bring recaps of the previous night’s Grey’s Anatomy.  And, while I won’t spoil the episode for anyone who has yet to watch it, I will say that my ears (and a few of my co-workers’) perked up when Dr. Webber asked the above question to Dr. Bailey. In discussing this one line comment, we  wondered if this statistic is true.. or just another fictional part of the medical drama.

So when I sat down at my desk, I did a few quick Google searches to find out what I could. In the article How Much Is That Bariatric Center of Excellence Worth Anyway? I found the following:

…the hospital needs to secure the magical 125 cases per year to maintain Center of Excellence accreditation. What does 125 cases annually mean to the hospital? If you take 125 Medicare patients, blending Roux-en-Y gastric bypass along with gastric band procedures, length of stay of no more than two inpatient days, and conscientious resource utilization (read: cost containment), hospital net income can range from $325,000 to $750,000. Additionally, for every $1 in direct revenue, there is an additional 40 cents in indirect revenue as a result of candidacy determination services, which include endoscopy, radiology, laboratory, pulmonary and cardiac services. As a result, those 125 cases can provide the hospital with a net income of $455,000 to $1,050,000 per year. These candidacy determination services can, and should, accrue to the hospital year after year. If you have ever wondered why so many hospitals attempt to start and develop a bariatric program, these numbers should answer that question. (General Surgery News)

Here’s what I do know as fact: the weight loss business is a $59 billion industry that is constantly growing. Bariatric surgery is only one part of this industry and only one part of a dieter’s weight loss journey. Pre and post surgical care is an important step in maximizing patient outcomes and enhancing total wellness, especially in terms of pre-surgical weight loss, psychological support, nutrition education, exercise training, and support.

If I could step into that scene of Grey’s, when Dr. Webber was lamenting over finances and space issues, I would tell him that Seattle Grace may (or may not) be ready for a bariatric surgery program, but it is ready for a medical weight loss program for surgical  or non-surgical candidates. It can still make a difference in many lives and generate revenue for the hospital. And, since Robard’s program is implementable in 30 days – he’d see a quick return on investment.  

Sources:
New Direction System: http://newdirectionsystem.com/direction/NDsurgery.aspx
General Surgery News: http://www.generalsurgerynews.com/index.asp?section_id=410&show=dept&issue_id=558&article_id=13822