FOREST HILLS, N.Y. and BANNOCKBURN, Ill., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Parkway Hospital, Queens, and the Centers for Obesity Related Illness (CORI) have established a comprehensive weight reduction program to treat morbidly obese patients -- those individuals at least 80 pounds or more overweight. CORI brings to The New Parkway Hospital a nationally recognized, multi-faceted approach to weight loss, including medically supervised interventions, education, behavioral modification strategies, and a comprehensive pre- and post-surgical program for nutritional, medical and psychological support to ensure long-term patient success.
"Obesity is a major health concern in Queens with 16 percent of our residents regarded as obese," states Robert Aquino, M.D., CEO of The New Parkway Hospital. "With CORI as our partner, we can bring to local residents a comprehensive, high quality program with proven outcomes that incorporates medically supervised weight reduction, as well as surgical options. The CORI approach to helping those who are morbidly obese reach the goal of lifelong weight management supports Parkway's mission to serve the community."
Michael P. Schuhknecht, D.O., F.A.C.O.S., physician co-founder of CORI, heads up the bariatric team at The New Parkway Hospital. "A key differentiator of the CORI program is its success in engaging patients to make lifestyle changes, including a commitment to diet and exercise. We believe in the power of nutritional and psychological counseling before and after gastric bypass surgery to ensure long-term, optimal outcomes," states Dr. Schuhknecht, renowned for his extensive work in bariatric surgery with more than 1,000 bariatric procedures.
The CORI team works with each patient to devise an appropriate weight loss surgical plan including options for open and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, as well as laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAP-BAND(R)) surgery. CORI also offers an open Roux-en-Y bypass surgery with the Sapala-Wood Micropouch(R). This procedure, patented by CORI co-founders James A. Sapala, M.D., F.A.C.S., and Michael H. Wood, M.D., F.A.C.S., is an open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery with a very small pouch, which, to date, has not required a revision.
Dr. Schuhknecht says that the pervasiveness of obesity and its co-morbidities including diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, are public health threats. "Our years of experience show that we can actually reverse these conditions with weight loss surgery and have demonstrated that it is a highly effective, long-term solution for morbid obesity.
In conjunction with The New Parkway Hospital, CORI is sponsoring a series of info sessions at the hospital. It is a community-based opportunity for patients and their families to meet CORI surgeons and professionals who provide individualized obesity screenings using the body mass index (BMI) guidelines. The CORI team also offers information and education that will assist people who are a minimum of 80 to 100 or more pounds over their ideal body weight learn their options for weight reduction, surgical intervention and insurance reimbursement.
Call 800-578-CORI (2674) or visit http://www.weightlosssurgery.com/ for program dates and locations.
The New Parkway Hospital maintains a number of primary care and multi-specialty centers through Boro Medical, P.C., Boro Medical of New York, Inc., and Boro Healthcare of Union, P.C. (New Jersey).
About The New Parkway Hospital
The New Parkway Hospital is a 251-bed community Hospital located in Forest Hills, Queens. Under new management since July 2004, The New Parkway Hospital offers acute medical and surgical services, has 911 receiving Emergency Department, and is a designated Stroke Center. The Hospital offers special services that include a sleep laboratory, two hyperbaric chambers for wound care, a non-invasive cardiac care division, and wound care center. The Hospital is an affiliate of The Lenox Hill Hospital and is conveniently located on the Grand Central Parkway off Jewel Avenue. For more information, please call 718-990-4100.
About CORI
CORI Centers are operated by MSO Medical, Inc. with its corporate office located in Bannockburn, Illinois (Chicago suburb). MSO Medical contracts with acute care hospitals to establish Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence under the brand name CORI (Centers for Obesity Related Illness). CORI has established centers in Illinois, Michigan, New York and Florida. For more information, call 800-578-CORI (2674) or visit http://www.weightlosssurgery.com/.
Centers for Obesity Related IllnessCONTACT: Media - Ihor Andruch, CPRi Communications for CORI,+1-201-641-1911, ext. 5, iandruch@cpronline.com
Web site: http://www.weightlosssurgery.com/