St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands Hospital Receives Quality Recognition in Bariatric Surgery and Obesity Medicine

THE WOODLANDS, TX (June 27 2025) – St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands Hospital recently received reaccreditation - a designation held for a decade - under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), a joint quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

The official designation labels the hospital as a Comprehensive Center with Obesity Medicine Qualifications. St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands Hospital is the only hospital in North Houston and the only CommonSpirit Health facility in Texas to tout this level of obesity medicine recognition (through MBSAQIP) - a true accomplishment for the program.

MBSAQIP is a comprehensive, nationwide surgical quality program aimed at ensuring the safe and effective performance of metabolic and bariatric surgery. Surgical outcomes focus on weight loss and the treatment of obesity-related diseases, like diabetes, sleep apnea, and others. Research shows accredited centers experience lower complications, and better outcomes than that of non-accredited facilities.

"Receiving MBSAQIP accreditation is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire team. This accreditation validates our efforts and reinforces our commitment to providing the best possible care and outcomes for our patients,” said Dr. Yong Choi, Vice President of Medical Operations for St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands, Lakeside and Springwoods Village Hospitals.

He continues, “The purpose of incorporating obesity medicine as a focus is to enhance the comprehensive care provided to patients undergoing weight loss surgery. This integration aims to ensure a multidisciplinary approach to obesity management, addressing both the surgical and medical aspects of the condition, including pre-operative optimization and post-operative care."

As an MBSAQIP-accredited hospital, St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands Hospital also becomes an ACS Surgical Quality Partner. Being a Surgical Quality Partner signifies a hospital’s dedication to consistently improving procedures and approaches, while maintaining a critical eye on process at every step.

The Surgical Quality Partner designation lets patients know St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands Hospital is dedicated to quality and relentless self-improvement and has been verified or accredited by the ACS. Patients can trust that the care they receive at Surgical Quality Partner hospitals adheres to the most rigorous standards in surgical quality.

"ACS Quality programs are grounded in more than a century of experience and participation is an important measure of a hospital’s surgical quality. As an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands Hospital has shown a commitment providing the best possible patient care, evaluating that care in a rigorous fashion, and dedicating themselves to continuous self-improvement," said ACS Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS.

Learn more about the MBSAQIP.

About St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands Hospital

St. Luke's Health–The Woodlands Hospital offers leading-edge treatments and services to North Harris and Montgomery counties. The hospital offers expertise in a broad range of services, including heart care, neurology, and sports medicine. Using the latest technological advances and standards of care, the hospital’s board-certified medical staff, expert nurses, and allied health professionals provide compassionate and comprehensive care in inpatient and outpatient settings. St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands’ clinical affiliations include Baylor College of Medicine, the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Texas Children’s Hospital. St. Luke’s Health is a member of CommonSpirit. Learn more at stlukeshealth.org.

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 88,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. “FACS” designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

About the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

The ASMBS is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the nation. It is a non-profit organization that works to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery and is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about bariatric surgery as an option for the treatment of morbid obesity, as well as the associated risks and benefits. It encourages its members to investigate and discover new advances in obesity, while maintaining a steady exchange of experiences and ideas that may lead to improved outcomes for morbidly obese patients. For more information, visit https://asmbs.org/.