Pacific Bariatric and Scripps Mercy Designated Center of Excellence

SAN DIEGO – Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group (PBSMG) and Scripps Mercy Hospital have been designated as an American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) Bariatric Center of Excellence by the ASBS and the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). This prestigious designation also includes PBSMG surgeons Leo Murphy, M.D., Laurence Tanaka, M.D., Gene Rumsey, M.D, and George Zorn, M.D. The ASBS designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 64 percent of all U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Morbid obesity is closely correlated with a number of serious conditions that severely undermine the health of overweight patients, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. In California alone, bariatric surgical procedures increased 40 percent between 2002 and 2003. The Center of Excellence designation serves as an important tool to identify hospitals, surgical groups and physicians with a consistent record of efficient and appropriate procedures with excellent short- and long-term outcomes.

“We believe the ASBS Center of Excellence program and our designation as such will serve as a catalyst, driving our very b program to even greater success,” said Tom Gammiere, chief executive, Scripps Mercy Hospital.

The ASBS is the largest society in the world for the bariatric surgical specialty. It was founded in 1983 in order to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery by continued encouragement of its members to pursue investigations in both the clinic and the laboratory; interchange ideas, information and experience; promote guidelines for ethical patient selection and care; develop educational programs for physicians, paramedics and lay people; and promote outcome studies and quality assurance.

The SRC was established to promote the delivery of bariatric surgical care with the highest levels of efficacy, efficiency and safety.

Established in 1890 by the Sisters of Mercy, Scripps Mercy Hospital serves the San Diego and Chula Vista communities. With 700 licensed beds, more than 3,000 employees and 1,300 physicians, Scripps Mercy Hospital is San Diego’s longest established and only Catholic medical center. With two campuses, Scripps Mercy Hospital is the largest hospital in San Diego County and one of the 10 largest in California.

Established in 1993, Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group, Inc. (PBSMG) at Scripps Mercy Hospital is a pioneer in the field of bariatric surgery and comprises leading surgical experts in laparoscopic and open gastric bypass surgery. PBSMG has performed over 8,700 surgeries and offers top experts in the field of bariatric surgery, the latest medical technology and a knowledgeable support staff. PBSMG has earned a nationwide reputation as a premier surgical weight loss program.