Peninsula Regional Medical Center has been designated by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery®. Blue Distinction is a designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality health care. Blue Distinction Center designations provide consumers with a framework for making informed decisions on where to go for specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, and transplants.

“At Peninsula Regional we believe that our designation as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery will serve as a catalyst, driving strong programs like ours to become even better,” stated Peggy Naleppa, Peninsula Regional Medical Center President. “We have done our part by creating a bariatric surgical program that safely treats an average of approximately 25 patients per month with outcomes that rival the best programs in the nation.”

Obesity is widely recognized as a contributor to serious health risks. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the total number of bariatric surgeries increased 400 percent from 1998 to 2004. Bariatric surgery may help some individuals reduce extreme obesity and its associated health risks, and Blue Distinction provides objective information to help them make informed decisions when choosing a provider.

“Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery demonstrate a commitment to high-quality care,” said Jon P. Shematek, MD, CareFirst Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. “CareFirst commends the efforts of providers in our network, such as Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s bariatric program, that show particular interest in patient outcomes and in earning this distinction.”

Criteria for selecting Blue Distinction Centers Bariatric Surgery are developed in collaboration with expert physicians and medical organizations -- including the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS). To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery, Peninsula Regional Medical Center met the selection criteria posted at www.BCBS.com, which, includes: An established bariatric surgery program, with a bariatric clinical support team, Inpatient facility, including intensive care, emergency services and experienced surgeons, Full facility accreditation by a CMS-deemed national accreditation organization, and A comprehensive quality management program.

Note: Designation as Blue Distinction Centers means these facilities' overall experience and aggregate data met objective criteria established in collaboration with expert clinicians' and leading professional organizations’ recommendations. Individual outcomes may vary. To find out which services are covered under your policy at any facilities, please contact your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield plan.

“Blue Distinction puts a high value on research and evidence-based health and medical information,” said Allan Korn, MD, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Chief Medical Officer. “Blue Distinction Centers show our commitment to working with doctors and hospitals in communities across the country to identify leading institutions that meet clinically validated quality standards and deliver better overall outcomes in patient care.”

The Bariatric Surgery program at Peninsula Regional Medical Center was established in 2002 and specializes in the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band and laparoscopic gastric bypass procedures. Peninsula Regional Medical Center supports the program with surgical staff, operating room space and the latest bariatric surgical and imaging technology.

Dr. Michael Sofronski, MD, bariatric surgeon, serves as the Medical Director of the Bariatric Surgery program at Peninsula Regional Medical Center. Dr. Sofronski also owns the Delmarva Bariatric and Fitness Center in Salisbury, Maryland. He is partnered with fellow bariatric surgeon Daniel McCullough, MD. Dr. Sofronski is a national proctor for the Realize Adjustable Laparoscopic Gastric Band. His responsibilities include lectures, as well as hands-on clinical teaching where he instructs other bariatric surgeons on how to place the adjustable gastric band. Dr. McCullough has successfully completed a minimally invasive fellowship under the auspices of Dr Bruce Shirmer at the University of Virginia. Dr, Shirmer is nationally recognized as an expert in obesity surgery.

With over 1,600 laparoscopic band and bypass procedures performed, the Bariatric Surgery program at Peninsula Regional has been designated a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The program has a comprehensive aftercare program, including weekly education groups, monthly nutrition classes, fitness center and personal training, as well as on-line support to contribute to improved patient outcomes.

Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Maryland offers the widest array of specialty and subspecialty services on the Delmarva Peninsula. It is the region’s largest, most advanced and most experienced tertiary care facility offering continuous patient care since 1897.

Its 3,300 physicians, staff and volunteers provide safe, compassionate and affordable care designed to exceed the expectations of the nearly 500,000 patients who rely on the Medical Center team each year for inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic, subacute and emergency/trauma services including open heart surgery, joint replacement, neurosurgery, bariatric services and comprehensive cancer care. Peninsula Regional is comparable in size, technology and complexity to the leading urban hospitals in cities like Baltimore, and the 6th largest health care system in Maryland by licensed bed count. It is the proud recipient of nearly 20 national health care excellence awards, clinical rankings and certifications in just the past three years.