Sunday, November 7, 2010

Weight Loss Surgery Seminar - November 15, 2010

JOIN US FOR A FREE INFORMATIONAL SESSION

Weight Loss Surgery: When Is It the Best Option?

Weight Loss Surgery. Experienced. Skilled. Compassionate.

Presented by William Graber, MD, FACS
Board-certified surgeon specializing in weight loss (most insurance plans accepted)

- Find out when surgery is the best option
- Review what can be expected after surgery
- Learn what qualifies as obesity.
- Review how obesity affects health.

St. Joseph’s is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis.
Franciscan Management Services, Inc. is an affiliate of St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center.

Learn more about your options. Register at 315-744-1244 or email community.programs@sjhsyr.org

Monday, Nov. 15, 6:00 p.m.
St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center
301 Prospect Ave., Syracuse
DeFuria Conference Room L-100A (off main lobby)
Free parking in Medical Office Centre Garage

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Weight Loss Surgery Seminar - October 18, 2010

JOIN US FOR A FREE INFORMATIONAL SESSION

Weight Loss Surgery: When Is It the Best Option?
Weight Loss Surgery. Experienced. Skilled. Compassionate.

Presented by William Graber, MD, FACS
Board-certified surgeon specializing in weight loss (most insurance plans accepted)

- Find out when surgery is the best option
- Review what can be expected after surgery
- Learn what qualifies as obesity.
- Review how obesity affects health.

St. Joseph’s is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis.
Franciscan Management Services, Inc. is an affiliate of St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center.

Learn more about your options. Register at 315-744-1244 or email community.programs@sjhsyr.org

Monday, Oct. 18, 6:00 p.m.
West Genesee High School
5201 West Genesee St., Camillus
Large Group Instruction Room - enter west side of building

Friday, October 1, 2010

2010 CNY Walk from Obesity - October 9, 2010

We are proud to honor our patients by sponsoring the
2010 CNY Walk from Obesity at MVCC on October 9, 2010

To learn more visit http://www.walkfromobesity.com/

Dr. William A. Graber, Dr. Matthew A. Fitzer, and Dr. Dmitri V. Baranov specialize in the minimally-invasive treatment of morbid obesity. They are dedicated to a comprehensive, team approach to bariatric surgery.

Surgeries are performed at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica, and at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. Dr.

Graber is the Director of Bariatric Surgery at both hospitals.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Socioeconomic disparities in eligibility and access to bariatric surgery

The incidence of obesity and morbid obesity among adults in the United States has continued to increase to epidemic proportions during the past 20 years. The adverse effects of obesity and obesity-related medical conditions have severely affected every aspect of our healthcare system. Multiple studies have now documented the effects of obesity, including greater mortality, increased hospital admissions and outpatient visits, decreased quality of life, and overall costs to the healthcare system that run to billions of dollars annually.

Bariatric surgery has now become widely accepted and scientifically proven as the most effective method for control of both morbid obesity and the obesity-related medical conditions that plague this population. These include diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, and debilitating joint disease. For patients who meet the criteria for bariatric surgery established by the National Institute of Health, this procedure can be a life-altering and lifesaving intervention. However, as with many hospital-based therapies, a number of additional obstacles to access exist for patients who could clearly benefit from a bariatric procedure.

Read the entire article: http://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/resources/Featured_article_6_1.pdf

Thursday, July 8, 2010

NEW STUDY FINDS THOSE DENIED INSURANCE FOR BARIATRIC SURGERY

ASMBS - Weight Stayed the Same Over Three Years, But New Diseases Developed at Rapid Pace

LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 24, 2010 – Patients who were denied bariatric surgery for insurance reasons developed a slew of new obesity-related diseases and conditions within three years of follow-up, according to a new study presented here at the 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

Researchers at Gundersen Lutheran Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin, compared the medical records of 587 patients who had laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGB) with 189 patients who were medically eligible, but denied bariatric surgery by their insurance provider during the period 2001 to 2007. At the time of initial medical evaluation, patients in both groups had an average body mass index (BMI) of about 48. The goal of the research was to track the development of five obesity-related conditions in patients who were denied treatment and in patients who had bariatric surgery.

Read the entire article: http://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/resources/2010_annual_meeting/access_to_care_insurance_denials.html

Monday, May 3, 2010

ReShape Medical Announces Initiation of U.S. Clinical Study for Weight Loss

First Patient Receives ReShape Dual Balloon Device for Non-Surgical Weight Loss

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- ReShape Medical™, Inc. announced today that it has initiated a U.S. Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical study to assess the safety and effectiveness of its non-surgical, dual-balloon device for weight loss. The ReShape Balloons are designed to be a treatment for the millions who want support with weight loss, without the invasiveness of surgery. The ReShape device occupies existing space in the stomach to reduce its capacity for food. The balloons remain in place for six-months and are then removed.

Read the entire article: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reshape-medical-announces-initiation-of-us-clinical-study-for-weight-loss-86291587.html

Monday, April 19, 2010

ASMBS - Two Major Insurers Now Cover Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) today announced its support of recent policy changes by Aetna Inc. and United Healthcare. The national health insurance giants will now cover laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a newer method of bariatric surgery that is becoming increasingly popular as a treatment for morbid obesity.

"We are pleased that Aetna and United Healthcare now includes sleeve gastrectomy among its covered bariatric procedures," said John W. Baker, MD, FACS, President of ASMBS. "In the rapidly changing field of bariatric and metabolic surgery, it is important to provide coverage and access to a wide range of proven treatment methods. Sleeve gastrectomy has now reached that threshold where the data and our experience with the procedure supports its safe and effective use in people affected by the chronic disease of morbid obesity."

Read the entire article: http://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/news/ASMBS-Sleeve_Gastrectomy_insurance_coverage_seo_FINAL.pdf

Monday, March 22, 2010

ASMBS - Socioeconomic disparities in eligibility and access to bariatric surgery

To analyze the socioeconomics of the morbidly obese patient population and the
impact on access to bariatric surgery using 2 nationally representative databases. Bariatric surgery is a life-changing and potentially life-saving intervention for morbid obesity. Access to bariatric surgical care among eligible patients might be adversely affected by a variety of socioeconomic factors.

Read the entire article: http://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/resources/Featured_article_6_1.pdf