Owensboro Health | Lift | June 2018

Owensboro Health has a new surgical weight-loss program offering patients the expertise of a fellowship-trained surgeon at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. Surgical weight loss, formally called bariatric surgery, offers patients with obesity and related health problems an option to help them in their journey to improve their health. The program is led by Ravi Alapati, MD, FACS, who joined Owensboro Health in December 2017. In addition to Dr. Alapati, the team includes veterans in the area of bariatric care and weight loss, including a dietitian, a psychologist, a program director, a practice manager and an insurance specialist. Dr. Alapati said that for bariatric patients, this surgical option can make an immense difference in whether they are successful in their weight loss. Patients with higher levels of obesity have differences in their bodies and brains that can make it far more difficult for them to lose weight on their own. Many of these patients also have corresponding health problems that make exercise much more difficult, if not impossible. “Obesity is a complex, multifactorial disease. It’s more complex than just diet and exercise,” Dr. Alapati said. “There are multiple hormonal changes in the body that happen after bariatric surgery, which help patients with weight loss. Bariatric surgery is also called metabolic surgery. There are changes in the body metabolism that happen after bariatric surgery.” While bariatric surgery is an important part of the process, Dr. Alapati said he tells all patients that their commitment is what will truly determine their success. “It’s a lifelong effort and commitment. That’s why I tell the patients bariatric surgery is a tool which can be used effectively or ineffectively. It depends on that particular effort from the patient,” Dr. Alapati said. But for patients who commit, the benefits are clear. “It improves their quality of life and longevity,” Dr. Alapati said. “They actually get a real second chance at life, if you will.” Owensboro Health unveils surgical weight-loss program As part of the program, Dr. Alapati will offer the following procedures: » » Roux-en-y gastric bypass » » Sleeve gastrectomy » » Adjustable gastric banding For patients who commit, the benefits are clear: “It improves their quality of life and longevity,” Dr. Alapati said. “They actually get a real second chance at life.” Dr. Ravi Alapati is a board-certified general surgeon with advanced fellowship training in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery. For more information about the program at Owensboro Health or to register to attend one of the free seminars, call 270-417-3030 . Owensboro Health, Inc., complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. Owensboro Health, Inc., does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. Owensboro Health, Inc.: 1. Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as: » » Qualified sign language interpreters » » Written information in other formats, based on an individual’s needs 2. Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as: » » Qualified interpreters » » Information written in other languages If you need these services, contact a staff member or supervisor. If you believe that Owensboro Health, Inc., has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex, you can file a grievance with the Office of Risk Management: Office of Risk Management Owensboro Health 1201 Pleasant Valley Road Owensboro, KY 42303 Phone: 270-691-7887 TTY: 270-688-3719 Fax: 270-417-4809 Email: riskmanagement@ owensborohealth.org You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax or email. If you need help filing a grievance, a Patient Relations specialist is available to help you. You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/ smartscreen/main.jsf , or by mail or phone at: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Ave. SW Room 509F, HHH Building Washington, DC 20201 Phone: 800-368-1019 TDD: 800-537-7697 Complaint forms are available at: www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html Public notice of nondiscrimination and accessibility See the back cover for information about our free weight-loss seminars. OwensboroHealth.org  7