Bariatric & Metabolic Institute Celebrates New Location

Grand Opening Celebration Scheduled for Tuesday, April 12

MACON, GA (Tuesday, April 12, 2016) - Bariatric & Metabolic Institute, Atrium Health Navicent Physician Group (BMI) invites the community to celebrate its new practice location.

A grand opening will be held Tuesday, April 12, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the practice's new location at 5437 Bowman Road, Suite 126 in Macon. This event is free and open to the community.

Founded in 2013, BMI was created to provide comprehensive weight management in a caring, local setting. Using surgical and nonsurgical options, combined with lifestyle and behavioral changes, caregivers at BMI have assisted more than 225 patients in achieving optimal success in weight management.

“At Atrium Health Navicent, we are committed to improving the health of our communities through all means possible, and we particularly want to prevent illness before it occurs. We are so pleased with the work that our surgeons and staff at Bariatric and Metabolic Institute are doing to minimize the prevalence and threat of obesity in central Georgia,” said Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, President and CEO of Atrium Health Navicent.

The new practice location provides additional exam rooms to accommodate BMI's growing patient population. A streamlined floor plan allows patients ease of access, while the overall office design considers the comfort and needs of bariatric patients. Computers in each exam room will allow providers to easily access a patient's information to treat each patient in a timely manner, and also allow more face-to-face time and personalized care. The new location also includes space for classes and monthly support group meetings.

In 2015, BMI was recognized for its safe, high quality patient care when it achieved national accreditation from the American College of Surgeons' Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). Accreditation demonstrates that BMI and The Medical Center, Navicent Health meet and exceed national quality standards established to ensure safe, high-quality bariatric care.

“Bariatric surgery is a wonderful option for those with obesity who have not had success with diet, exercise or medical weight loss options. Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, Atrium Health Navicent Physician Group in conjunction with The Medical Center, Navicent Health provides patients seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions with a high-quality, nationally-recognized option for health and wellness. Our program meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care, and we offer numerous options for those wishing to improve their health through bariatric means,” said Danny Vaughn, MD, bariatric surgeon with BMI.

BMI offers three surgical options for those seeking bariatric treatment, including:

• Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy - the removal of a portion of the stomach to create a smaller pouch, allowing the patient to better manage portion control.
• Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass - a change in the direction that food travels during digestion to reduce the number of calories absorbed during digestion.
• Laparoscopic gastric banding - the placement of an adjustable band around the upper part of the stomach to restrict the stomach's size and assist with portion control.

In addition, BMI offers patients the services of a dedicated certified bariatric nurse practitioner, dietitian and exercise physiologist.

“Our staff is committed to ensuring each patient's success. Our interaction with the patient is not limited to the operation. We work with each patient prior to surgery to ensure that they understand the commitment required. We continue to work with each patient after they decide to pursue surgery in order to help them achieve optimal health and wellness,” said Robert Parel II, MD, FACS, bariatric surgeon with BMI.

According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 15.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from severe obesity. Obesity increases the risk of morbidity and mortality because of commonly associated conditions, including arthritis, Type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and sleep apnea. Obesity is particularly common in the southeastern United States, including Georgia.