Baptist Bariatric Center offers weight-loss surgery
When Jim Bouler, 58, graduated high school, he weighed a healthy 163 pounds. Little did he know, by the time he would reach his mid-50s, he would be suffering from morbid obesity. Battling ailments such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, chronic indigestion and severe lymphdemia while carrying a staggering 473 pounds, Jim Bouler simply "couldn't go anymore."
Jim's story is becoming more common. Studies indicate that 66 percent of adults are considered overweight or obese.
Baptist achieves designation
The Baptist Bariatric Center has helped thousands of people in northwest Florida and south Alabama gain an active, healthy lifestyle through weight-loss surgery. Recently, the Baptist Bariatric Center and Bariatric Surgeon J. David Nye were recognized by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery as a Center of Excellence. This designation is recognized by many insurance companies for weight-loss surgery as it meets the highest standards of quality and safety.
To earn a Center of Excellence designation, the Baptist Bariatric Center underwent a series of site inspections during which all aspects of the program's surgical processes were closely examined and data on health outcomes was collected.
"Baptist Health Care has a history of national recognition for providing quality programs and services that meet the highest standards of excellence in patient care," said David DiLoreto, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer, Baptist Health Care. "This designation is the gold standard and illustrates Baptist Bariatric Center's commitment to safe, quality patient care and demonstrates the Center's alignment with the highest industry standards."
"Morbid obesity is a health epidemic that can severely impact a person's quality of life, and Baptist will continue to help people affected by this condition that can ruin and shorten lives."
Risks of obesity
Morbid obesity is connected to a number of serious conditions that severely undermine the health of overweight patients, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain types of cancer. Weight-loss surgery can help obese patients manage these conditions.
Through weight-loss surgery, the Baptist Bariatric team was able to help Jim get his life back. He lost an amazing 250 pounds and was freed from his numerous health conditions. Jim said that his most rewarding moment after his weigh-loss surgery was when his daughter was able to hug him and wrap her arms around him for the first time.
"She was poking me in the side and asked me, 'what's that daddy?,' " Bouler said. "I simply said, 'that would be a rib, Lindsay.' "
Since the program's inception, the Baptist Bariatric Center has taken a comprehensive team approach to bariatric care. The Center's bariatric surgeons, nurses, dietitians and psychologists have provided high quality bariatric care to more than 2,500 patients.