Saint Anne’s Hospital Named One of America’s Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery by the Women’s Choice Award

Mar 4, 2022

Fall River, MA – Saint Anne’s Hospital has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery by the Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in health care.

The award signifies that Saint Anne’s is in the top 1% of 4,542 U.S. hospitals reviewed.

Obesity is a common disease in the U.S., and many adults find it’s a struggle to get their weight down and stay down. Bariatric surgery is a safe option for some, especially those with high body mass index (BMI) or underlying health conditions. Losing the extra weight can help eliminate or stabilize other conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, acid reflux, depression, and sleep problems. In addition, bariatric surgery greatly reduces the risk of death from cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases.

The methodology for the bariatric surgery award is unique in that it combines national accreditations, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results, and hospital outcome scores with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. It is the only award recognizing excellence in bariatric surgery based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.

“We are proud of the skills and commitment of our bariatric surgery team,” said Michael Bushell, president of Saint Anne’s Hospital. “Their dedication to safe, high-quality care and meeting the needs of the whole person reflects our hospital’s overall commitment to compassionate, respectful care delivered with excellence. The Women’s Choice Award is a wonderful acknowledgement of our program’s success in helping men and women lead a healthy life.”

Saint Anne’s is one of 220 award recipients representing hospitals that have met the highest standards for bariatric surgery across the U.S. It has achieved the “America’s Best” distinction by meeting the following criteria:

  • Accreditation by the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery joint-sponsored Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP)
  • At least 72% of patients reporting on the HCAHPS survey that they would definitely recommend the hospital
  • A high patient safety ranking based on 11 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ measures of infection and complication rates

An American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery study found that the risk of death from any cause is considerably less for bariatric patients than for individuals affected by severe obesity who have never had the surgery. The data show that cancer mortality is reduced by 60 percent for bariatric surgery patients. Additionally, death as a result of diabetes and heart disease is reduced by more than 92 percent and 50 percent, respectively.

“There are many women who struggle with their weight, especially as they get older.  For some, diet and exercise alone aren’t enough and they need to turn to bariatric surgery to reduce their weight for their overall good health.” said Delia Passi, Founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “As a family’s chief caregiver, it is important for women to keep their own health in top shape and we help her by letting her know where to go for the best bariatric surgery.”

For more information on the America’s Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery, visit womenschoiceaward.com/best-bariatric-surgery

About The Women’s Choice Award®

The Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals™ is a trusted referral source and coveted credential that identifies the nation’s best hospitals based on robust criteria that include relevant clinical performance, patient satisfaction and appropriate accreditations. The Best Hospitals demonstrate exceptional ratings, providing the highest level of care and commitment to their patients’ health and well-being.  The Women's Choice Award is the only designation that takes into consideration the preferences of women when selecting a hospital. To learn more, visit womenschoiceaward.com.

About Saint Anne’s Hospital

Founded by the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation in 1906, Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts, is a full-service, acute care Catholic hospital with 211 beds and satellite locations in Dartmouth, Attleboro, Swansea, New Bedford, and Stoughton, Massachusetts. A member of Steward Health Care, Saint Anne’s provides nationally recognized patient- and family-centered inpatient care and outpatient clinical services to patients from surrounding Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities. Saint Anne’s key services include the Center for Orthopedic Excellence; bariatric surgery; multiple robotic-assisted surgical capabilities, including orthopedic surgery, spine surgery, and general surgery; Saint Anne’s Hospital Regional Cancer Center; two ambulatory surgery centers; the Center for Pain Management; and inpatient geriatric psychiatry services. In addition to earning the Leapfrog Group’s “Straight A’s” for patient safety since 2012, Saint Anne’s has earned national recognitions for cancer care, spine surgery, bariatric surgery, stroke care, and patient experience.