Winter Haven Hospital’s (WHH) Bariatrics Program earned accreditation as a Comprehensive Center from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).

The application process involved submitting the program’s casework with review of overall quality, safety and patient success. It also ensures that all places in the hospital, which include the facilities in the ER, OR and radiology have the proper equipment to care for these special patients.

“I am so proud of our team’s accomplishment as a bariatric Center of Excellence through the MBSAQIP,” said Danielle Corson, the bariatric program coordinator. “It was not an easy task, but with everyone’s hard work and dedication (within WHH and Dr. Hall’s office), we were able to apply for this accreditation within 10 months of our first bariatric surgery. We are so honored to be able to offer our patients a Center of Excellence program for their weight-loss journey.”

The bariatrics program launched at WHH in 2020 with Dr. Clinton Hall as the medical director. The goal of the program is to help patients navigate causes, prevention and treatment of obesity. The program encompasses nutrition, exercise, behavioral therapy and weight-loss surgery.

“This is a prestigious achievement and is validation for all that we do to provide our patients with the highest level of care, which they deserve,” said Dr. Hall. “This involves the full engagement from all of our team members as well as true dedication from the patients themselves.”
The program is now accredited through August 2025.

Other BayCare hospitals with Comprehensive Center of Excellence accreditation are Plant City’s South Florida Baptist Hospital, Tampa’s St. Joseph’s Hospital, Riverview’s St. Joseph’s Hospital-South, St. Petersburg’s St. Anthony’s Hospital and Mease Dunedin Hospital. Mease Countryside Hospital has applied for the accreditation and its application is in the review process.

Winter Haven Hospital
BayCare Health System