MONTCLAIR, NJ [November 7, 2019] – Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center received the Healthgrades Bariatric Surgery Excellence AwardTM, along with a five-star ratings in Overall Bariatric Surgery. The hospital has also received five-star ratings for Coronary Interventional Procedures and Hip Fracture Treatment.

This achievement is part of the Healthgrades 2020 Report to the Nation, which underscores the importance of hospital quality to both consumers and hospital leaders. Every year, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 32 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions using Medicare data, and additional analyzes outcomes in appendectomy and bariatric surgery using all-payer data provided by 15 states.

"At Mountainside Medical Center, each of our bariatric patients go through a comprehensive process to ensure that they are physically and emotionally ready for surgery – this includes nutrition counseling and clearance from various specialists like a cardiologist, pulmonologist, among others," says Karl Strom, M.D., medical director for the Center of Advanced Bariatric Surgery at Mountainside Medical Center. "This process help to keep the risk for complications low, and ultimately leads to improved patient outcomes."

"The center is dedicated to providing a comprehensive program that truly helps patients begin their journeys to happier, healthier lives," says John Fromhold, CEO at Mountainside Medical Center. "This recognition is an important distinction that tells our patients seeking information about bariatric surgery that we meet the highest standards for patient safety and quality."

In addition, Mountainside Medical Center is nationally accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Plan (MBSAQIP®). The MBSAQIP® standards ensure that bariatric surgical care patients receive a multidisciplinary program to improve patient outcomes and long-term success.

To learn more about the Center for Advanced Bariatric Surgery at Mountainside Medical Center visit www.mountainsidehosp.com/weightloss.

About Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center

Mountainside Medical Center has been serving Montclair and its surrounding New Jersey communities since 1891. The hospital provides patients immediate access to innovative and effective treatment alternatives at specialized centers within the hospital that focus on imaging, women’s health, cancer care, surgery, obesity, stroke and chronic kidney disease. Mountainside Medical Center is designated as a Primary Stroke Center by the NJ State Department of Health and Senior Services and is one of only a few community hospitals licensed by the State to perform emergency cardiac angioplasty. To learn more about Mountainside Medical Center visit www.mountainsidehosp.com.