Integrated Health Clinical Issues & Guidelines Committee Band Adjustment Guidelines

In October 2011, the Integrated Health Clinical Issues & Guidelines Committee formed an ad hoc subcommittee to serve as an expert panel for the development of credentialing guidelines for gastric band adjustments performed by providers other than bariatric surgeons. A web-based survey was developed to obtain more information on provider types performing gastric band adjustments in ASMBS surgical programs; the existence of any training, credentialing or supervisory requirements for clinicians performing band adjustments; and free text items to obtain bariatric surgeon feedback on other areas of concern related to a guideline statement.  A total of 63 bariatric surgeons in high band volume practices responded.  For more details on the survey results and guideline statement, please open the links below:

View the Guideline:  http://asmbs.org/2012/11/gastric-band-adjustment-credentialing-guidelines-for-physician-extenders/

View the survey results: http://bariatrictimes.com/integrated-health-clinical-issues-and-guidelines-committee-develops-upcoming-gastric-band-adjustment-credentialing-guidelines-for-physician-extenders/

We are excited to have published our first guideline and are hard at work on the following projects:

• Revision of Psychiatric Evaluation Guidelines
• Revision of Nutritional Guidelines
• Development of Sensitivity Training Guidelines
• Development of Exercise Recommendations for the Bariatric patient

We hope to have each completed ready for publication by the end of 2013.

Pamela Davis, RN CBN CCM
Chair, IH Clinical Issues and Guidelines

Lisa West-Smith, PhD, LCSW
Co-Chair, IH Clinical Issues and Guidelines