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Designation Process

The ICE designation process consists of four main steps that involve the bariatric surgeon, hospital facility and surgical practice.

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 ICE designation candidate.

2) Achieve: Provisional Status

Applying for provisional status is the next stage in the ICE 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 ICE designation process.

  • Provisional Application and Linking
    After creating your account, registrants must establish the electronic links that connect the surgeon, surgical 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 provisional application for the ICE program. The Linking tab is located 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 havebeen 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. Importantly, surgeons and hospitals may not publicly announce or market provisional status. Centers must achieve designation before promoting their involvement in the ICE program. Learn more about ICE provisional qualifications.As provisional participants prepare for ICE designation, they are encouraged to contact SRC Support with any questions about the ICE program or COE system. Support team members are extremely knowledgeable and have access to tools that can help with this process.

3) Earn: Full Approval for Designation

Earning designation is the ultimate goal of ICE program participation. SRC Support is available to guide participants as they work to reach this second milestone in the ICE program.

  • Designation Application and Site Inspection
    A center is eligible for the ICE 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 facility that explain how to prepare for the site inspection.
  • Awarding Designation
    The site inspection report and the center’s applications 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 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, surgical practice and hospital that they have together earned the ICE 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.

Surgeons and hospitals are encouraged to publicly announce and market their achievement once they receive the ICE designation. Learn more about ICE designation requirements.

4) Maintain: Designation Renewal

The ICE 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 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.