Kingston Bariatric Centre of Excellence turns 10

Ten years ago, people living with obesity had to travel outside of southeastern Ontario to receive bariatric surgery, a variety of procedures that involve making changes to the digestive system. That was before a regional treatment and assessment centre opened in Kingston in April 2012 at Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s (KHSC) Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH) site.

“In the first few years of operation, the centre focussed on care and assessments of patients before and after their surgeries, which were still being performed in Toronto and Ottawa,” says Dr. Boris Zevin, medical director of the Kingston Bariatric Centre of Excellence. “This was in addition to helping people manage obesity-related conditions such as heart disease, and offering a Medical Weight Management Program.”

In 2016, the centre was accredited as a Bariatric Centre of Excellence by the Ontario Bariatric Network and bariatric surgery became available in Kingston.  Since that time, 1102 patients have had surgery at KHSC. Many of these patients probably can’t imagine what it would have been like over a decade ago to travel several hours for assessments, surgery and follow-up care.

A patient from Quinte West who had her surgery four months ago at KHSC said she would have travelled further for the surgery and the pre- and post-operative care but was very thankful that she didn’t have to.

Thanks to the improved use of virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Quinte West patient said she was grateful that many of her visits with care-team members such as a dietitian and social worker were conducted online, which saved her from having to travel to Kingston.

Of course, there have been challenges for the centre and its patients during the pandemic. The location of the centre at the HDH site had to change when there was a need to free up more space to care for inpatients, and like many other surgical procedures, bariatric surgeries were delayed a few times in order to focus hospital resources on emergency care.

“I fully understood why my surgery had to be delayed,” says the Quinte West patient. “It was worth the wait. Since my surgery a few months ago, I have more energy and am more hopeful. I am moving better than I was before with less pain and have been able to increase my physical activity.”

Obesity is a chronic disease that can cause serious health problems and is associated with reduced life expectancy by as much as ten years. 

“Medical weight loss and bariatric surgery can have a dramatic effect on obesity-related conditions and be life-changing for those who are eligible,” says Dr. Zevin.

Treatment of obesity results in more than 70 to 80 per cent of patients experiencing improvements in or the resolution of type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obstructive sleep apnea. 

Patient Laura Whitfield is currently going through the various assessments that are needed before her bariatric surgery can be scheduled, but already she is looking forward to gaining mobility to be able to take walks in nature and pick up her grandkids without being afraid she might fall.

The multidisciplinary team at the Kingston Bariatric Centre of Excellence is also looking to the future with hopes of further optimizing patients’ health throughout their weight-loss journey through additional services such as a blood pressure optimization clinic, an exercise program and increased mental health supports for the nearly 600 patients living with obesity who are referred to the centre each year.

“I’ve felt insecure most of my life,” says Whitfield “and I never feel that way when I’m at the centre. Everyone is so positive and I feel like they are there for me. They acknowledge my struggle and treat me like a person. I’m very grateful for everyone’s guidance and support.”