Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Committee

Tammy Kindel, MD PhD FACS FASMBS
Chair

Sabrena F. Noria, MD PhD FRCSC
Co-Chair

Ben Clapp, MD FACS DABS-FPMBS FASMBS
Board of Directors Liaison

Members

John W. Baker, MD FASMBS
T. Javier Birriel, MD FASMBS
Sara Martin Del Campo, MD MS
Maher El Chaar, MD
Jennifer Colvin, MD
Michael Edwards, MD, Diversity & Inclusion Committee Liaison
Rama Rao Ganga, MBBS MS MRCS
Charmaine Gentles, DNP APRN CRNFA
Jon Gould, MD, Immediate Past Chair
Elizabeth M. Hechenbleikner, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Daniel B. Jones, MD MS FASMBS, Senior Past Chair

Onur Kutlu, MD
Kathleen Lak, MD
Shauna Levy, MD MS
Henry Lin, MD
Mark Mahan, DO
Karina McArthur, MD
C. Kenneth Mitchell, Jr., MD FASMBS
Geoffrey Nadzam, MD
Bradley Needleman, MD FASMBS
Nabeel Obeid, MD
Carl Pesta, DO FASMBS
Anthony T. Petrick, MD FASMBS, Immediate Past Chair

Kinga A. Powers, MD PhD FACS
Sarah Samreen, MD
Keri Seymour, DO
Konstantinos Spaniolas, MD
Andrea Stroud, MD MS
William A. Sweet, MD
Lawrence Tabone, MD
Oliver Varban, MD
R. Wesley Vosburg, MD FACS DABOM FASMBS
Eric Volckmann, MD
Noel Williams, MD FASMBS
Randal Zhou, MD
Yulia Zak, MD

ASMBS Staff Liaison

Leslie Vinson

Charge

In alignment with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) mission to elevate global health and quality of life by significantly reducing the impact of obesity and its related illnesses, the Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Committee is entrusted with promoting continuous improvement in patient safety and risk reduction. The committee integrates and coordinates patient safety initiatives among member surgeons, aiming to reduce medical errors through process analysis and quality improvement reporting.

Description

The Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Committee is committed to improving patient safety and reducing risk for member surgeons. By studying trends in malpractice suits and risk management gaps, the committee aims to enhance patient safety initiatives, improve patient outcomes, and decrease surgeon exposure to liability.

Objectives

  • Identify gaps and members’ needs in patient safety, risk management, and professional liability to develop optimal resources that equip surgeons with the necessary tools and knowledge to enhance patient safety, mitigate risks, and manage liability effectively.
  • Provide recommendations for the promotion and dissemination of patient safety and risk management information.
  • Identify and employ process measures to identify and disseminate quality improvement initiatives.

Goals

  • Promote education on risk management and liability and develop expert witness guidelines to provide clarity and guidance for surgeons involved in legal proceedings.
  • Enhance patient safety initiatives through data analysis and identification of trends and areas for improvement in patient safety.
  • Establish a platform for knowledge sharing and learning among members.
  • Help create a mechanism by which ASMBS can endorse and encourage high performing programs exhibiting patient safety and quality improvement in all aspects of bariatric care.

2024/2025 Current Projects

  • Closed Claims 2.0
  • Same Day Surgery
  • ASMBS: Post-operative care pathway for minimally invasive Roux-en-Y gastric bypass – Pending BEC review.

2023/2024 Completed Projects

  • ASMBS: Intra-operative care pathway for minimally invasive Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, August 2024.

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