Michigan Medicine surgeons successfully performed the first bariatric surgery  at St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea (SJMC) last week. Adult bariatric surgery – not previously available at SJMC - is the first new service offered under the Michigan Medicine/Saint Joseph Mercy Health System joint venture of SJMC, which became official last July.

Michigan Medicine’s Nabeel Obeid, MD, performed the surgery after leading a work group to prepare for the Chelsea launch.

“The Michigan Medicine and St. Joe’s Chelsea teams have collaborated extensively to streamline operations, educate staff, and create communication channels for patients and employees in preparation to launch the bariatric program in Chelsea,” Obeid said. “We’re thrilled to expand both the reach of the Michigan Medicine bariatrics program and the scope of services available at SJMC.”

SJMC will offer comprehensive care for bariatric surgery patients, with procedures that use advanced laparoscopic technique. With the opening of the Michigan Medicine Chelsea Surgical Services clinic in the St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Medical Professional Building on Jan. 28, bariatric patients will also be able to receive bariatric support services in Chelsea, including informational meetings, evaluations, support group and follow-up by dietitians. “Our goal is to make the process as convenient and seamless as possible for patients, regardless of whether they choose Ann Arbor or Chelsea for their procedure,” said Obeid.

Michigan Medicine will continue to expand surgical services at SJMC over the coming months. Two additional operating rooms are currently under construction, one of which is slated to open late this summer and will include a robot to assist with urological, gynecological and general surgery cases. Further expanded services will be continuing to be explored through the joint venture moving forward.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone under the joint venture,” said David Spahlinger, M.D., president of the University of Michigan Health System, the clinical care unit of Michigan Medicine. “Michigan Medicine wants to partner with health care organizations that deliver high quality and high value. Saint Joseph Mercy Health System has a long-standing, positive reputation for delivering both to their communities. Our teams are excited that patients in Chelsea and western Washtenaw County will have increased access to services.”

"We are excited to bring this new service to the community," said Nancy Graebner, president of St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea. "Through our collaboration with Michigan Medicine, we have a unique opportunity to provide new services and care to more people closer to home. We are offering the right care, at the right time and in the right place."

About the Michigan Medicine Adult Bariatric Program

The Michigan Medicine adult bariatric program is accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) through the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic Bariatric Surgery.

About St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea

St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea (SJMC) is a not-for-profit joint venture hospital, whose partners are Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, a member of national Catholic health care system Trinity Health based in Livonia, Mich., and Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of the University of Michigan. Founded in 1970, SJMC is nationally recognized for both quality of care and patient satisfaction by national ranking organization Press Ganey, and is accredited by the Joint Commission. SJMC employs more than 1,200 individuals with a medical staff of approximately 500 physicians. Key services include robust medical and surgical service lines, six operating rooms, a 24-hour emergency department and senior emergency room, a state-of-the-art cancer center, a physical medicine and rehabilitation department, a comprehensive head pain treatment unit and behavioral health services. For additional information about SJMC, please visit www.stjoeschelsea.org.