BARIATRIC RESOURCE SERVICES

OptumHealth’s Bariatric Resource Services program is designed to address the growing epidemic of obesity in the United States. Obesity is the root cause of many chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and asthma; and increases the likelihood of various types of cancers.

The most effective treatment to date for significant, sustained weight loss for morbidly obese patients is bariatric surgery.¹ Because clinical outcomes of bariatric surgery vary widely, receiving services at an OptumHealth Bariatric Resource Services (BRS) Center of Excellence (COE) facility can help ensure that bariatric surgery and care are delivered in a manner that meets strict standards and increases the likelihood of superior outcomes and ultimately reduces costs.

Our BRS clinical team works to help individuals understand and manage the conditions associated with morbid obesity before and after surgery and have reduced inappropriate surgeries by 5 percent.² Successful weight loss is achieved through:

• Guidance to Centers of Excellence network facilities, helping to better control the disparity of care and variability of surgical outcomes.
• Multi-disciplinary bariatric clinical team approach.
• Case management 6-months post-surgery to assess for complications and to reinforce lifestyle changes.
• Behavioral support to reinforce lifestyle changes, nutrition, exercise, and encouragement to participate in bariatric support groups. Behavioral health support is coordinated with the client’s behavioral health vendor.

^{1 Rationale for the treatment of Morbid Obesity" (ASMBS)
2 5% Surgical Avoidance based on 2009 average surgeries avoided across BRS book of business}