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Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center Partners With Centers for Obesity Related Illness (CORI) to Launch Surgical Weight Loss Program

Posted on: Thursday, 31 March 2005, 15:00 CST

EAST PATCHOGUE, N.Y. and BANNOCKBURN, Ill., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center, a 321-bed acute-care community hospital in East Patchogue, New York, and the Centers for Obesity Related Illness (CORI) have launched a comprehensive weight reduction program to proactively treat Long Island's clinically severe obese patients -- those individuals at least 80 pounds or more overweight. CORI is operated by MSO Medical, Inc., which has been awarded the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Disease-Specific Care Certification for Bariatric Surgery.

"Obesity is a major health concern for our community and local businesses, with studies indicating that Long Island residents are heavier by five pounds or more than their Manhattan counterparts, and their expected probability of obesity is 17.8 percent higher in Suffolk County and 17 percent higher in Nassau," says Thomas Ockers, President and CEO, Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, citing Smart Growth America, which measures the health effects of urban sprawl and uses data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ockers adds, "CORI brings to Brookhaven's Surgical Solutions for Weight Loss Program a nationally recognized, multi-faceted approach to weight loss, with a sterling record for patient results that is rooted in medically supervised interventions, education, behavioral modification strategies, and a comprehensive pre- and post-surgical program for nutritional, medical and psychological support."

"Long Islanders may also need to work on increasing their level of regular exercise, a critical success factor for optimal surgical outcomes," emphasizes Michael P. Schuhknecht, D.O., F.A.C.O.S., physician co-founder of CORI and a bariatric surgeon at Brookhaven. "Suburban lifestyles are often sedentary with people dependent upon their cars for even local errands. Sometimes, surgical weight loss candidates need to drop pounds before their bodies are capable of rigorous exercise, but simple exercise - such as walking - is a key element to long-term weight management."

CORI has developed a nationally recognized program that demonstrates outstanding patient results while at the same time reducing length of stay (LOS) at the hospital and minimizing surgical complications and costs.

"The co-morbidities related to obesity -- such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease -- seriously impact the quality of life for many Long Island residents, increase healthcare costs, and impose burdens on area employers," says Dr. Schuhknecht, renowned for his extensive work in the field with more than 2,000 bariatric procedures. "Our decades of experience show that we can actually reverse these conditions with weight loss surgery and have demonstrated that it is a highly effective, long-term solution for clinically severe obese patients," he continues, noting that surgical weight loss is recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as the most effective lasting solution for losing 100 or more pounds.

The CORI team works with each patient to devise an appropriate weight loss surgical plan including options for open and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, as well as laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAP-BAND(R)) surgery. CORI also offers an open Roux-en-Y bypass surgery with a very small pouch called the Sapala-Wood Micropouch(R). Patented by CORI co-founders James A. Sapala, M.D., F.A.C.S., and Michael H. Wood, M.D., F.A.C.S., this procedure has been performed on over 5,000 patients and, to date, has not required a revision.

"CORI's approach to helping clinically severe obese individuals reach the goal of lifelong weight management supports Brookhaven's Mission to deliver leading-edge healthcare solutions through a focused and compassionate team," says Ockers. "CORI extends the hospital's commitment to service excellence, which centers upon patient, family and staff satisfaction."

CORI is sponsoring a series of info sessions in conjunction with Brookhaven's Surgical Solutions to Weight Loss Program. It is a community- based opportunity for patients and their families to meet CORI surgeons and professionals who provide individualized obesity screenings using the body mass index (BMI) guidelines. The CORI team also offers information and education that will assist people who are a minimum of 80 to 100 or more pounds over their ideal body weight learn their options for weight reduction, surgical intervention and insurance reimbursement.

For more information about the CORI weight reduction program at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, call 1-800-578-CORI (2674) or visit http://www.weightlosssurgery.com/ for program dates and specific locations.

About Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center

Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center is a 321-bed acute-care, voluntary not-for-profit community hospital located in East Patchogue, New York. Established in 1956, the Medical Center serves the needs of 28 communities throughout central Suffolk County. For more information, visit http://www.brookhavenhospital.org/.

About CORI

CORI Centers are operated by MSO Medical, Inc. with its corporate office located in Bannockburn, Illinois (Chicago suburb). MSO Medical has been awarded the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCHAO) Disease-Specific Care Certification for Bariatric Surgery. MSO Medical contracts with acute care hospitals to establish Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence under the brand name CORI (Centers for Obesity Related Illness). CORI has established centers in Illinois, Michigan, and New York. For more information, call 800-913-CORI (2674) or visit http://www.weightlosssurgery.com/.

CORI Centers

CONTACT: Jessica Wolfe, CPR Communications for CORI, +1-201-641-1911,ext. 51, jwolfe@cpronline.com

Web site: http://www.weightlosssurgery.com/http://www.brookhavenhospital.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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