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Outpatient Surgery E-Weekly

Contact Congress Over Drug Shortage Issues

A Kentucky congressman is urging surgical facilities to contact their members of Congress and request that they sign his letter demanding changes to...

N.J. Posts ASC Inspection Reports Online

State and federal inspection reports of New Jersey's ASCs are now available online, giving patients an opportunity to make more informed choices abo...

Are Opioids Necessary?

While it's not always practical, or even possible, to eliminate opioids from your post-op pain management regiment, reducing their use in favor of n...

Archive >  Minimally Invasive Surgery 2006

How to Start a Bariatric Program

You'll be met by the exuberance of patients willing to do anything to conquer their obesity and the reluctance of health plans willing to do anything to avoid having to cover the $25,000 average cost of surgery.

Dan O'Connor, Editor-in-Chief

Patients and their insurers spent $4.3 billion last year for 171,000 bariatric surgeries at an average of $25,000 each, says the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. When you look at those numbers, it might be tempting to think you can rush in and begin hosting bariatric procedures. But the experts we talked to say weight-loss is a program you launch, not a surgery you add, an all-consuming endeavor that requires institution-wide backing and unwavering commitment.

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Categories: General Surgery, Business Management, Cosmetic Surgery, Bariatric Surgery
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