Virtua Health’s Complete Weight Management Program has achieved a significant health care milestone, becoming the first in the Philadelphia region to earn accreditation as a Comprehensive Center with Obesity Medicine Qualifications.
Awarded by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), the distinction recognizes the health system’s ability to seamlessly integrate a full spectrum of weight-loss solutions under rigorous national standards.
While Virtua was previously recognized for its surgical expertise, this new accreditation endorses the entire breadth of its weight management program. Patients now have official, nationally backed assurance that they can access a personalized continuum of care, ranging from lifestyle modifications to advanced medical interventions.
Key offerings within the accredited program include:
- Medical Weight Loss: Utilizing multiple FDA-approved weight-loss medications.
- Bariatric Surgery: Featuring advanced, minimally invasive and robotic-assisted technology.
- Non-Surgical Procedures: Including innovative endoscopic options, such as cutting-edge magnet technology introduced by Virtua last November.
- Extensive Support Services: Dedicated nutrition, behavioral, and fitness counseling, alongside monthly support groups and a personal navigation team.
To secure the MBSAQIP designation, programs must undergo rigorous evaluations, document patient outcomes, complete specialized training modules, and maintain ongoing quality assessments.
“Having a full spectrum of services helps patients with their decision-making,” Dr. Samuel Wasser, director of bariatric surgery, said. “It gives them a range of options that they can’t get anywhere else, and that’s what sets our program apart.”
Dr. Gaurav Sharma, director of obesity medicine, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the milestone highlights the collaborative effort required to deliver long-lasting patient success.
Virtua’s Complete Weight Management Program currently operates out of four South Jersey locations:
- Haddon Heights
- Marlton
- Moorestown
- Sewell
