QI program for bariatric surgery reduces readmissions

Editor's Note

The first national quality improvement (QI) program for bariatric surgery reduced readmissions by more than 30% for some hospitals, finds this study presented November 2 at ObesityWeek 2016, the annual conference of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

The average hospital saw 30-day readmissions drop by about 14%, but some had reductions of around 32%.

The Decreasing Readmissions through Opportunities Provided (DROP) program is the first initiative focused on readmissions from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, a joint program of the American College of Surgeons and ASMBS.

DROP components include educational videos, nutrition consults, medication management, postoperative surgeon and nutritionist visits, and discharge checklists. Of these components, postoperative visits with a nutritionist had the most effect. 

While the average hospital saw 30-day readmission rates for weight-loss surgery patients drop by about 14 percent, some hospitals had reductions as much as 32 percent after implementing a new quality improvement program, according to new research* presented today at ObesityWeek 2016, the largest international event focused on the basic science, clinical application and prevention and treatment of obesity.