News Releases
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2011
First Spanish Hospital and Surgeons Awarded
International Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery Designation
Designees Join SRC’s Global Network of Providers Recognized for High-Quality Patient Care
RALEIGH, NC (May 3, 2011) - Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an independent, nonprofit organization that advances the safety, efficacy and efficiency of bariatric and metabolic surgery, today announced the first International Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery™ (ICE™) in Spain. The ICE designation, awarded to individual surgeons and the facility in which they perform bariatric procedures, was achieved by the University Hospital of Bellvitge (HUB), which is part of the Catalan Health Institute, and Dr. Jordi Pujol Gebellí.
SRC created the ICE program to ensure that the safest, highest quality care is delivered to bariatric surgery patients, regardless of where they have their procedure performed. ICE establishes guidelines and criteria for evaluating bariatric surgery programs around the world and employs a systematic approach to ensure these standards are upheld. The facilities and surgical processes of the center in Spain were closely examined for compliance with the stringent ICE requirements and underwent a thorough site inspection.
“Receiving ICE designation reflects the willingness of our staff to be measured against the highest standards of performance,” said Dr. Pujol. “We are honored to earn this recognition and look forward to joining our fellow ICE colleagues in advancing the specialty through superior patient care and innovative research and technologies.”
HUB is located in the Hospitalet de Llobregat area of Barcelona, the second-largest city in Spain, and serves a population of approximately 2 million people. It is consistently ranked among the top 20 hospitals in Spain and certified as a third-level center, allowing the hospital to treat the most complex medical cases. HUB is a member of the Biomedical Research Institute of Bellvitge (IDIBELL) and certified by the Carlos III Research Institute of the Ministry of Science and Innovation for the highest level of research.
Dr. Pujol is Co-Director of the Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Department and Director of International Training Courses for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery at HUB. He is recognized for performing the first laparoscopic surgery at the hospital and has received numerous awards for his research within the specialty. He is also a member of the Spanish Society for Bariatric Surgery.
“As one of the pioneering bariatric centers in Europe, HUB and Dr. Pujol have truly demonstrated a singular commitment to bariatric surgery,” said Dr. Raul Rosenthal, Chairman of the IBSRC and a bariatric surgeon at Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida. “Patients from around the country and region can now choose to have their procedure performed by a center that has met the global standard of excellence in bariatric surgical care.”
The center in Spain is part of an international network of more than 1,100 surgeons and 600 hospitals and freestanding outpatient facilities participating in a center of excellence program that SRC administers. Surgeons and hospitals performing bariatric surgery around the world can initiate their involvement in the ICE program by registering on the SRC website.
About Surgical Review Corporation
Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) is an independent, nonprofit organization governed by industry stakeholders and dedicated to advancing the safety, efficacy and efficiency of surgical care worldwide. Initially focused on bariatric and metabolic surgery, SRC has emerged as a leading administrator of center of excellence programs for surgical specialties. The organization manages programs on behalf of top medical societies around the world, setting a global standard for excellence. To support center of excellence program compliance and quality improvement in patient care, SRC developed BOLD, a longitudinal outcomes database. BOLD is now the world’s largest repository of clinical patient data for the bariatric surgery specialty. For more information, visit www.surgicalreview.org.