Mercy Health Springfield Weight Management Achieves Re-Accreditation

National Recognition Highlights Excellence in Surgical and Medical Weight Loss 

Dr. Terry Carman, the metabolic and bariatric surgery director for Mercy Health – Springfield Weight Management

​Patients seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions now have a high-quality choice for receiving care at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety.
 
The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) have officially re-accredited Mercy Health – Springfield Weight Management as a comprehensive center with obesity medicine qualifications. The center earned its initial accreditation in 2018.

​“Receiving re-accreditation means patients interested in addressing their weight have access to a multidisciplinary program, not just a surgical procedure,” said Dr. Terry Carman, the metabolic and bariatric surgery director for Mercy Health – Springfield Weight Management. “We offer both preoperative and postoperative care as well as non-surgical options that can be used to create an individualized care plan to meet each patient’s unique needs, improving outcomes as well as long-term success.”

The National Institutes of Health reports around 15.5 million people suffer from severe obesity in United States, and the numbers continue to grow. Conditions associated with obesity – such as diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems – further increase both the physical and financial burden. Metabolic and bariatric surgical procedures have proven to be effective in reducing the long-term personal, medical, and economic costs associated with obesity.

Working together, ASMBS and ACS have developed this single unified program to achieve one national accreditation standard for bariatric surgery centers, the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). It works to advance safe, high-quality care for bariatric surgical patients through the accreditation of bariatric surgical centers with the goal of helping patients identify centers the provide optimal care. 

To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Mercy Health – Springfield Weight Management met essential criteria for staffing, training, and facility infrastructure as well as protocols for care, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity. It also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its processes and outcomes, identifying opportunities for continuous quality improvement. There are 45 weight management programs within a 250-mile radius of Springfield, but Mercy Health is one of only 8 that have earned both the comprehensive surgical accreditations as well as obesity medicine qualifications. 

Dr. Carman, program coordinator Jackie Dahlberg, dietitian Cheryl Robertson, and certified nurse practitioner Pamela Raines make up Mercy Health – Springfield’s Surgical Weight Loss program. For more information about weight loss options available, visit mercy.com.   

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About Mercy Health - Springfield 
Mercy Health – Springfield is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH) one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministry’s quality, compassionate care is provided by nearly 60,000 associates serving communities in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia, as well as throughout Ireland. BSMH provides care for patients nearly 14 million times annually through its network of more than 1,200 care sites, which includes 50 hospitals. In 2024, BSMH provided more than $500 million dollars in community investments across five states, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to health care for our patients in need. Locally, Mercy Health – Springfield, which includes Springfield Regional Medical Center and Urbana Hospital, has a mission to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. Mercy Health – Springfield is a comprehensive, regional health care system, known for quality, innovation, compassionate service, and a caring culture. With two hospitals and numerous physician offices and care locations, Mercy Health ensures easy access to safe, effective, timely and cost-efficient care for every stage of life through a network of hospitals, nursing homes and retirement communities as well as rehabilitation and outreach services. The mission of Bon Secours Mercy Health is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of its communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. Visit mercy.com for additional information.