Penn Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Team

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Video Transcript

Matt Kirkland, MD, FACS: People need to understand that these are not cosmetic operations; these are operations that are done to prolong life as well as improve the quality of life. The needs can range from better control of blood sugar to elimination of sleep apnea, to better control of hypertension to preparing patients with arthritic hips and knees to be able to undergo successful joint replacement by other – other physicians in the health system. We have individuals who've been performing these procedures for extended periods of time and we have a well developed infrastructure for care of the complex bariatric surgical patients from the social support needs of the patients to the specific physical needs of the patients; dietary counseling, psychological counseling, the entire multidisciplinary team of physicians and nurses and allied health professionals remains involved with the care of the patients in this kind of a well structured efficient program throughout this short hospitalization. I'm Dr. Matt Kirkland, Director of the Bariatric Surgical program at Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Medicine.