SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Regional West Weight Loss Options has been designated as a Center of Excellence in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery by Surgical Review Corporation. To earn this designation, Regional West had to prove information on all aspects of their bariatric surgery program and processes, including data on its surgical outcomes.

The Center of Excellence designation ensures that the safest, highest quality of care is delivered to bariatric surgery patients. It takes into account the specific needs of these patients and the medical team’s roles and responsibilities to them.

“Receiving the designation is important because it recognizes the safe, consistent care we provide. We hold ourselves to high standards, and this recognizes that. Most importantly, it recognizes our commitment to improve the health and well-being of our patients” said Jeff Holloway, MD, Medical Director for the Weight Loss Options program at Regional West.

While bariatric surgery is not a quick fix, a successful patient, with the help of a dedicated surgical team, along with dieticians and counselors can gain long-term management of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other co-morbidities. 

Dr. Holloway, who has been performing bariatric surgery at Regional West for 16 years, has performed 1,800 lap band procedures and 400 gastric bypass surgeries in his career. Jason LaTowsky, MD, Regional West’s newest bariatric surgeon, is a bariatric fellow who studied at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. Dr. LaTowsky, who grew up near Lakeside, Neb. and graduated from Alliance High School, will offer the gastric sleeve procedure as another surgical weight loss option. He also performs gastric bypass procedures and assists Dr. Holloway with lap bands. This will give patients in western Nebraska another option for surgical weight loss.

For more information on bariatric procedures and their health benefits, contact Mona Urwin, RN, CBN, at 308-630-2249.

Regional West Health Services, Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company for Regional West Medical Center, Regional West Physicians Clinic and Regional West Garden County. These organizations, with over 1,900 employees, provide comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, the Regional West family of health care organizations offers care that spans more than 30 medical specialties.