Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery
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Surg Obes Relat Dis · Jul 2015
Multicenter StudyThe effect of national hospital accreditation in bariatric surgery on perioperative outcomes and long-term mortality.
Controversy exists regarding the relevance of Center of Excellence accreditation to bariatric surgery outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of national hospital accreditation on perioperative and long-term outcomes following bariatric surgery. ⋯ In New York State, bariatric hospital accreditation improved patient outcomes as compared to unaccredited hospitals and within the same hospital compared to preaccreditation. Significant changes were identified for some underserved at-risk populations. Measures to ensure equitable health care for at-risk populations following institutional accreditation are imperative.