Data shows optimism for weight-loss surgery in right conditions

Weight-loss surgery is most successful when experienced doctors follow strict guidelines for performing the procedures and selecting patients, according to data released by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

Post-surgery readmission rates dropped when patients sought treatment by 12 surgeons identified by Blue Cross at "centers of excellence," an initial analysis of the data found.

The insurance provider started looking at bariatric surgery in 2004, and identified centers based on the number of procedures and their success rate.

Between October 2004 and October 2005, hospital readmission rates dropped by nearly half among patients treated by the 12 identified surgeons. Less than 5 percent of those patients had to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of the surgery.

In 2003, before the excellence program, the same surgeons readmitted 7.6 percent of bariatric patients and non-center of excellence surgeons readmitted 16.4 percent, according to Blue Cross estimates.

The company said non-center of excellence surgeons have also improved since the program began.

"Physicians are a pretty competitive group. Most are going to want to show improvement," said Dr. Robert Harris, chief medical officer for Blue Cross.

Insurance providers have long been cautious about covering bariatric surgery, which shrinks the stomach and alters digestion to help patients lose weight. The procedure can result in serious complications such as intestinal ruptures, internal bleeding, infection, severe malnutrition, vomiting and acid reflux.

In recent years, many insurers dropped or restricted coverage because of high rates of complications.

"The problem has been that everyone has been doing it and they didn't have the systems in place to ensure quality," said Dr. Walter Pories, a professor of medicine at East Carolina University who performed bariatric surgery from the early 1980s until six years ago. "Once you have the systems in place, the safety is remarkable."

Posted by: Best Weight Loss Program

Healthy breakfast best for managing weight

TORONTO -- This isn't new, but it's simply a reminder: breakfast really is the most important meal of the day.

Toronto dietitian Zannat Reza, a consultant for Dairy Farmers of Canada and General Mills, lists five reasons for Canadians to find time for a healthy breakfast:

- Weight management: Studies show that people who eat breakfast regularly have healthier body weights than those who skip it.

- Nutrient boost: Studies also show that people who start the day with a healthy breakfast have better nutrient intake levels throughout the day.

- Concentration: It's been proven that it's hard for people to concentrate on their daily tasks when they start the day on an empty stomach. A healthy breakfast feeds your body and your brain.

- Metabolism: Eating in the morning revs up your metabolism and helps with weight management.

- Role model: Children observe and imitate their parents. By eating breakfast together, you're helping your kids develop healthy habits at a young age.

Posted By: Best Weight Loss Programs

Hospital set to break ground

By Kathy McCabe | September 10, 2006

Beverly Hospital on Thursday will break ground on a new $30 million medical-surgery center planned for 7 acres on the lower portion of the old Danvers State Hospital property on Route 62. The ceremony, scheduled for 5 p.m., will include Steven Laverty , president of Beverly Hospital, and Wayne P. Marquis , the Danvers town manager.

Work crews started clearing the land about a month ago. Concrete will soon be poured on the foundation of the outpatient center.

``This is more of a ceremonial groundbreaking," said Heather Jones, a hospital spokeswoman. ``We want the public to know we are ready to go"

The 80,000-square-foot center is expected to open early next fall. Day surgery, women's breast health, weight management, and other programs now based at the Beverly Hospital Hunt Center, across town on Lindall Street, will relocate to the new center. Most geriatric health programs, such as the Center for Healthy Aging, will remain at the Hunt facility, Jones said.

Beverly Hospital is owned by Northeast Health System Corp., which also owns Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester, CAB Health & Recovery Services in Peabody, and BayRidge Hospital, a mental health-substance abuse facility in Lynn.

N.H. bank rolls out

First Hampshire Bank , a start-up in Manchester, N.H., is gearing up for an initial public stock offering in the fall. The bank must raise enough money to satisfy equity capital requirements it submitted in its application for approval to the New Hampshire Board of Bank Incorporation and the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission.

Organizers include Meridian Interstate Bancorp., parent of East Boston Savings Bank, which will acquire a 40 percent stake in the new bank. Others include 10 people chosen as directors of the First Hampshire Bank.

The bank already has filled several key administrative jobs. John F. ``Jay" Dinkel Jr. has been named director of community banking and lending. He most recently was a senior vice president for government banking at Ocean National Bank in Manchester, N.H. Katherine C. Meyer has been named vice president of operations. She's a 10-year banking veteran, with stints at Ocean National Bank and Granite Bank.

Red Sox trainee

He didn't meet Big Papi. He doesn't know what caused the August swoon. But Ben Vainer of Melrose knows a whole lot more about the Red Sox' marketing machine than the average high school student.

Vainer was ``drafted" as a Red Sox summer intern. He was one of five winners of the ``Break Into the Business of Baseball Challenge," a national essay contest for high school students sponsored by Bentley College and MLB.com. More than 1,000 high school students submitted 100 -word essays explaining why they should intern with one of five big-league teams -- the Red Sox, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Nationals.

``I wrote about how the Red Sox are such a great organization and team, because of how they bring so many different kinds of people together," said Vainer, 18, a senior at Melrose High School. He is the son of Elizabeth and Gadi Vainer.

Vainer, the only New England winner, spent five weeks volunteering for the Sox. He spent three weeks working for Fenway Sports Group , a sports marketing subsidiary of the Red Sox. He researched companies considering sponsorships with NASCAR, Boston College team sports, even other pro baseball teams.

``I did a lot of research and spread sheets on Fortune 500 companies," said Vainer, whose usual summer job is at Mount Hood Golf Course in Melrose. ``A lot of research goes into sponsorships. For a Nascar sponsorship, you literally count the number of times a car goes around the track, the number of viewers, . . . and the camera angle. It was pretty interesting."

Vainer spent his final two weeks following around two reporters for MLB, Ian Browne and Howard Kussoy. He watched games from the press box, visited the clubhouse, and sat in on postgame press conferences. But his best memory of Fenway? ``I stood up on the Monster seats a lot," said Vainer, whose employee badge was like a free pass to every game. ``I saw a bunch of walkoffs."

Datebook

Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday will hold ``Back to Work & School," a networking mixer, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bill DeLuca Chevrolet Cadillac at 112 Bank Road in Haverhill. The cost is $10 for members, $20 nonmembers. For information, call 978-686-0900 or visit www.merrimackvalleychamber.com .

The Homebased Business Women's Network will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Village Green Restaurant on Route 1 North in Danvers. Pat Shea, owner of Total Harmony in Georgetown, will speak on ``The Synergy of Personal Image." Free for members, $10 for guests. For more information, visit www.h-b-n.org.

Kathy McCabe can be reached at kmccabe@globe.com.

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