| Business briefs
BARIATIC HONORS: The Baptist Bariatric Center and bariatric surgeon Dr. J. David Nye have been recognized by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery as a Center of Excellence. The designation is recognized by many insurance companies for weight loss surgery as it meets the highest standards of quality and safety.To earn the 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 were collected.Since the program's inception, the Baptist Bariatric Center's surgeons, nurses, dietitians and psychologists have provided bariatric care to more than 2,000 patients.For more information, call 434-4080 or visit www.eBaptistHealthCare.org.From staff reports .
More political games with our health care
HB 849 is a bill that would require health insurance companies to pay for bariatric surgery for type II diabetics. I put this bill in at the request of doctors at the Portsmouth Hospital. There are different procedures, but bariatric surgery is basically stomach reduction. The bill, after being amended and undergoing about six subcommittee meetings, was carefully crafted to meet the needs of type II diabetics who cannot lose excess weight by traditional methods of dieting and exercise and need this type of surgery to stop the downward spiral of failing health. The testimony on this bill was absolutely compelling that in about 80 percent of those who met the criteria to be operated on, the surgery "cured" type II diabetes, high blood pressure, reduces heart attacks and a number of other expensive health care issues.
Somerset Hospital offers weight-loss surgery
Teresa Matsko, Boswell, tried almost every known diet without much success."I was tired of yo-yo diets," she said. "I had GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), tendon problems, degenerative discs and sleep apnea. I've been trying to get weight-loss surgery for two years, but insurance denied it at first."
The 53-year-old housewife weighed 232 pounds in July when she underwent gastric bypass surgery at Somerset Hospital. She now weighs 182 and her goal is 150."I no longer need an oxygen tank at night and I don't have heartburn anymore," she said. "I look so different, when I went in for my three-month checkup, Dr. Pradhan didn't recognize me."Dr. Kumuda Pradhan performed the surgery. She was his first gastric bypass patient at Somerset Hospital, but he performed more than 120 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis., where he completed his fellowship in bariatric and advanced laparoscopic surgery.
Baptist Bariatric Center offers weight-loss surgery
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.
Obesity Linked High Blood Volumes Render PSA Prostate Cancer Test Less Effective
The extra blood volume produced in the obese may so dilute levels of a telltale protein produced by prostates that the popular PSA test may be essentially useless for diagnosing prostate cancer in men carrying extra pounds, a new study in The Journal of the American Medical Association suggests.
The new research, combining data from more than 13,000 prostate cancer patients at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and elsewhere, could eventually affect the reliability of scores of other blood tests for cancer and other diseases in obese people, or at least alter the way those tests are analyzed, investigators say.
The predictive value of the PSA test depends on accurate readings of a protein, (P)rostate (S)pecific (A)ntigen continually pumped out by the prostate. When the prostate is enlarged - due to cancer or other disorders - the concentration of PSA in the bloodstream can increase, signaling the possible presence of a tumor.
Vilma is cautiously optimistic
Jonathan Vilma hopes to be ready for minicamp next June and training camp in July. But the Jets' linebacker, who underwent surgery on his right knee last week, wasn't making any guarantees when he spoke with reporters on a conference call Tuesday. .
Mother's urn misplaced but not forgotten
A local woman was overwhelmed when she learned of an urn with cremated human remains turning up in the back seat of a broken-down Buick at a North Charleston auto-repair business. After all, the remains were her mother's. "She is going to be resting because I'm going to scatter the ashes," Fatima Dickerson said. The Charleston County Coroner's Office was still deciding Wednesday which family member would receive the remains, Deputy Coroner Bobbi Jo O'Neal said. The Coroner's Office retrieved the urn Tuesday morning and initially contacted the deceased woman's sister in another state about claiming it. The urn came from a car at the Transmission Wholesalers lot near Rivers Avenue and Remount Road. The shop had towed the car several months earlier. The car's original owner sold it to the transmission business and discovered a gold and black vase while sorting through belongings left inside.
Study Looks At Alternatives To Weight Loss Surgery
A pilot study is helping severely obese people by looking at the alternatives to gastric bypass surgery. The study is being done at the University of Buffalo. It focuses on changing behavior, limiting calories and boosting activities. "Individuals will not only learn more about themselves, but also how to live in the very difficult and toxic food environment in which we all live," said Dr. Michael Noe. Experts say weekly meetings gave participants information and support. On the meetings, Dr. Noe added, "To learn more about themselves, their decision-making behaviors, how to cope with the environment, and not only in the initial weight-loss phase, but also during an extended period." Researchers say one participant has lost 152 pounds, dropping from 337 pounds to 185.
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