CMCOEM Designation Process
The CMCOEM center of excellence designation process consists of four main steps that involve the bariatric surgeon, hospital facility and surgical practice.
Currently, program documentation and other resources are only available in English. As the CMCOEM program grows, items will be translated into Spanish. Therefore, Mexican surgeons and hospitals should appoint a fluent English speaker as the primary SRC contact person. This individual will play a leading role throughout the CMCOEM designation process. They will need to ensure that all involved fully understand the application process, program requirements and criteria, as well as legal contracts and other important documents.
Start: Registration and Consultation
Achieve: Provisional Status
Earn: Full Approval for Designation
Maintain: Designation Renewal
1) Start: Registration and Consultation
The first step of the designation process is to register online, which typically takes only a few minutes. Each registrant creates a username and password that will be used to log into the COE system, so it’s important to save this information. SRC Support team members will also ask for your username and/or account number before they can address any questions.
Following registration, users create an account portfolio that includes contact information and, for surgeons and hospitals, details about their medical credentials.
While not required, SRC Support offers a free one-on-one consultation at no charge. During this phone call, SRC Support can help surgeons and hospitals learn how best to prepare for and complete the application for provisional status as well as answer questions about becoming a CMCOEM designation candidate.
2) Achieve: Provisional Status
Applying for provisional status is the next step in the CMCOEM designation process. Bariatric surgeons and hospital facilities are encouraged to apply as soon as they are interested in earning designation
Applicants are approved for provisional status when they meet or exceed the provisional qualifications. Achieving provisional status is the first major milestone in the CMCOEM program.
- Provisional Application and Linking
After creating your account, registrants must establish the electronic links that connect the surgeon, practice and hospital facility. Together, these links form the “center” that applies for provisional status – and ultimately for the “center of excellence” designation and renewal. Linking is the only way registrants can begin their application for the CMCOEM program. The Linking tab can be found on the account summary page. Learn more about Linking. The surgeon and hospital must pay program application fees before submitting their application. An invoice is emailed to the surgeon’s and hospital’s billing contact and also displayed on the Invoice and Payment tab. Once fees are paid, the application may be submitted to SRC.SRC reviews the application to assess whether the qualifications for provisional status have been met. Applicants are notified when they are approved as a provisional participant (a site inspection is not required) and receive a BOLD information packet, which explains what is required for BOLD activation and compliance. Learn more. - Provisional Participation
Provisional participants maintain their status by staying current on applicable fees, portfolio information and BOLD data entry, when applicable. There is no limit on how long a participant can remain in provisional status.As provisional participants prepare for CMCOEM designation, they are encouraged to contact SRC Support (srcsupport null@null surgicalreview NULL.org) with any questions about the CMCOEM program or COE system. Support team members are extremely knowledgeable and have access to tools that can help with this process.
3) Earn: CMCOEM Designation
Earning designation is the ultimate goal of CMCOEM program participation. SRC Support is available to guide participants as they work to reach this second milestone in the CMCOEM program.
- Designation Application and Site Inspection
A center is eligible for the CMCOEM designation as soon as they comply with the program’s requirements. This includes entering data on all bariatric surgery patients from the date of their BOLD activation.When a provisional participant completes all questions pertaining to the requirements, they can submit their application for designation. SRC will send materials to the surgeon, surgical practice and hospital that explain how to prepare for the site inspection. - Awarding Designation
The site inspection report and the center’s application are the main elements reviewed by the International Bariatric Surgery Review Committee (IBSRC). To ensure objectivity and fairness, information that identifies the applicant is obscured, and committee members must recuse themselves from the process if they suspect a conflict of interest. Occasionally, the IBSRC or site inspector may ask an applicant to submit additional documentation that clarifies or corrects previous information.When a candidate is approved by the IBSRC, SRC notifies the surgeon and hospital that they have together earned the CMCOEM designation. If a candidate is not approved, they are given the opportunity to correct any deficiencies and be reconsidered for designation. The site inspector and SRC Support can help guide them through resolving these issues.
4) Maintain: CMCOEM Designation Renewal
The CMCOEM designation remains in place as long as a center is in good standing and in verifiable compliance with all current requirements and program criteria. To verify compliance, designees are formally evaluated approximately every three years as part of a renewal cycle. Regardless of when the renewal site inspection occurs, the center’s designation remains in place until the renewal process is complete.
Site inspectors and SRC Support (srcsupport null@null surgicalreview NULL.org) are available to assist designees as they prepare for renewal. Renewal candidates should refer to the requirements section for current requirements and a record of all amendments.