Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) By American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and American College of Surgery (ACS)

Abstract

Metabolic and bariatric surgery procedures provide highly effective solutions for durable weight loss. This helps in resolving obesity-related comorbidities and reducing mortality in the morbidly obese population. Therefore, more and more healthcare facilities are gearing up to meet the increasing demand for such services. In order to achieve a single national accreditation standard for bariatric surgery centers in the United States and Canada, the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) was started by combining the accreditation programs of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

Accreditation is for a period of 3 years. Depending on the criteria fulfilled, the center may be designated as low acuity center, comprehensive center, comprehensive center with adolescent qualifications, band center, or adolescent center. Better outcomes are seen in morbidly obese patients who undergo bariatric surgery at accredited centers than those who undergo such procedures at nonaccredited centers.