Abrazo Scottsdale Campus has opened its new Bariatric Wellness Institute featuring customized medical and surgical weight loss programs that focus on nutrition, exercise and behavior modification as well as minimally invasive bariatric surgery.
“We are committed to helping our patients achieve weight loss success through individualized plans developed by our team of healthcare professionals including bariatric surgeons, physicians, nurses, dietitians, sleep specialists, physical therapists and mental health professionals,’’ said David Tupponce, Abrazo Scottsdale Campus CEO.
Medical weight loss plans are customized for each patient’s physical, mental and emotional needs. The Abrazo Scottsdale Campus Bariatric Wellness Institute focuses on providing education before and after surgery. Each patient is observed after surgery at 30 days, three months, six months, one year then annually thereafter.
Abrazo Scottsdale Campus offers three surgical weight loss options using minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch and Sleeve Gastrectomy. In addition, revision surgery to treat complications from gastric band or ring or a previous bariatric procedure also is available.
Bariatric surgeons include William Arnold, MD and Kevin Potter, DO who are both board-certified general surgeons. Ruthie Mangino, RN, PHD is a nurse practitioner in the practice and works with patients prior to and after surgery to help them understand and manage their challenges with weight and food. Trudy Thompson Rice, RN is program coordinator and also assists patients with coordinating their weight loss services.
“Surgical weight loss is a method of assisting patients in their weight loss journey whereby we use surgical techniques to limit the amount of food they eat,’’ Arnold said. “With a much smaller stomach, it makes it possible to achieve that reduced caloric intake. ‘’
The goal is to help patients lose weight to improve their health and to embrace their new lifestyle so they maintain the weight over the long term.
“People who have tried dieting alone or exercising alone often have limited success. We show the patient the balance between diet and exercise and behavioral changes. We also look at underlying medical issues that can limit a patient’s ability to lose weight,’’ Potter said.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than one in 20 adults is considered to be morbidly obese. Those suffering from obesity often have obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Obesity patients are at increased risk for disability or premature death.
The weight loss institute offers online seminars about surgical weight loss, which are scheduled 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 11 and 25.
A weight loss surgery support group meets at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Abrazo Scottsdale Bariatric Wellness Institute, 3815 E. Bell Road, Suite 2100. The next one is scheduled for July 19.
