Monday, January 25, 2016
New Haven, CT (Jan. 25, 2016) – Yale New Haven Hospital has opened the newest specialized inpatient unit for bariatric surgery patients in the region. This unique unit allows the Bariatric Center at YNHH to deliver tailored care for bariatric patients undergoing life-changing surgery. The dedicated 15-bed patient unit is located on the hospital’s Saint Raphael’s Campus and opened with a ribbon-cutting dedication ceremony on January 5. The first patients arrived on Monday, Jan. 11.
The bariatric unit is an added and important resource to the YNHH team of bariatric surgeons who perform advanced, minimally invasive weight loss surgery. The planning process began over a year ago with input from patient advisors, physicians, clinicians and staff. Last spring a mock patient room was built where the team was able to simulate various activities to ensure they could be performed safely and to plan best placement of equipment and furniture. The new private bariatric inpatient rooms meet the vision to create a patient-centered and healing environment with specific focus on patient safety. Among the safety elements is additional space to allow for safe ambulation leading to a quicker recovery time. Many other design elements such as the flooring were selected to promote a quiet environment and comfortable experience for patients and their families..
“The opening of this brand new Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery unit is an important and exciting addition to our Bariatric Center. The specialized facilities, in addition to our uniquely trained and dedicated caregivers, enable us to deliver a unique postoperative experience in a comfortable and caring environment. This is an essential first step in our patients journey to a healthier and happier life after surgery.” said Andrew Duffy, MD, FACS, FASMBS, Director, Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery Yale New Haven Health System and Associate Professor of Surgery at Yale School of Medicine. “The unit complements the comprehensive team we’ve assembled to support and care for our patients before and after surgery, to help ensure they can reach their goal weight and improve their overall health.”
The Bariatric Center's multidisciplinary team includes fellowship-trained bariatric surgeons, dedicated anesthesiologists, Obesity care-certified nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, dietitians, gastroenterologists, plastic surgeons, psychologists, psychiatrists, sleep specialists, care coordinators, and exercise physiologists.
Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH), part of Yale New Haven Health, is a nationally recognized, 1,541-bed, not-for-profit hospital serving as the primary teaching hospital for the Yale School of Medicine (YSM). Founded as the fourth voluntary hospital in the U.S. in 1826, today, YNHH has two New Haven-based campuses, and also includes Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital and Smilow Cancer Hospital. YNHH has received Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the nation’s highest honor of nursing excellence. YNHH has a combined medical staff of about 4,500 university and community physicians practicing in more than 100 specialties. www.ynhh.org
