Lompoc Valley Medical Center Achieves Bariatric Accreditation

Lompoc Valley Medical Center has achieved reaccreditation from the nationally recognized  

Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program as a “Comprehensive Center with Obesity Medicine Qualifications.” 

Following a rigorous review, the hospital met all criteria as a MBSAQIP-Accredited Center, according to national quality standards established to deliver safe, high quality metabolic and bariatric patient care. MBSAQIP-Accredited centers offer preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for patients with obesity. California has 70 MBSAQIP Comprehensive Centers. 

“This achievement is a testament to the incredible work of our Bariatric Team, led by Dr. Chris Taglia and Cristina Ortega, our Bariatric Program Coordinator,” said LVMC Chief Executive Officer Yvette Cope. “The success of our program is due to the exceptional collaboration and coordination between both our acute hospital and clinics, involving both clinical and nonclinical staff. It is this teamwork and dedication that truly sets us apart.” 

The bariatric program at LVMC is now the only Comprehensive Center for bariatric surgery and obesity medicine on the Central Coast. 

“This designation from the MBSAQIP signifies that we are offering best practice for all weight loss interventions and maintain a dedication to tracking outcomes and performing quality improvement,” said Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Director and Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Christopher Taglia, FACS, FASMBS, DABOM. 

Since the first bariatric surgery at LVMC in November 2021, Dr. Taglia has completed more than 300 bariatric surgeries. 

The MBSAQIP Comprehensive Center with Obesity Medicine Qualifications accreditation is designated such by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), in partnership with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). 

The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, ensure that metabolic and bariatric patients receive multidisciplinary medical care, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success.  

After applying for MBSAQIP Accreditation, centers undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviews the center's structure, processes, and clinical outcomes data. Centers that earn accreditation are awarded a specific designation level, depending on how many patients it serves annually, critical care capabilities, the types of procedures provided, and whether it provides care to patients under the age of 18.  

To earn MBSAQIP Accreditation, Lompoc Valley Medical Center met essential criteria for staffing, training, facility infrastructure and patient care pathways, ensuring its ability to support patients with obesity. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its surgical outcomes and identifying opportunities for quality improvement. 

Cope said the team “truly excelled in this rigorous evaluation.” The surveyor, Dr. Monali Misra, made note of the passion and commitment of everyone involved in the bariatric program. 

“She was so impressed that she plans to share our success in quality improvement projects with other hospitals,” Cope said.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 93 million adults in the U.S. are affected by obesity. The disease of obesity increases the risks of morbidity and mortality because of the diseases and conditions that are commonly associated with it, such as type II diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Metabolic and bariatric surgery has proven to be effective in the reduction of comorbid conditions related to obesity.