Bariatric & Weight Loss Services

Here at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital, our mission is to provide quality health and wellness services for the people of our region. That’s why we teamed up with Grand Health Partners; together, we now offer more comprehensive weight loss programs that are customized to the needs of our patients.

Bariatrics is a specialized branch of medicine that focuses on analyzing the causes of obesity, assisting with preventive measures, and administering treatments or bariatric services. The bariatric services provided by Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital and Grand Health Partners offer the expert support you need to transform your life.

We Understand Obesity

The safest and most effective way to tackle obesity is with guidance from qualified medical experts who have a firm understanding of the condition. We understand obesity – and we believe that educating our patients on their condition is the first crucial step that brings patients closer to actualizing their health and weight goals.

Here are the fundamental facts about obesity:

1. Obesity Is a Complex Metabolic Disease

Metabolic syndrome is a medical term for the combination of excess fat around the waist, high triglyceride levels, reduced good cholesterol, elevated blood sugar, and hypertension.  Being overweight or obese can trigger metabolic syndrome in certain individuals. 

Losing weight is one way to treat metabolic syndrome, however, this condition can also make losing weight even more challenging. This puts a patient in a complex cycle that may call for bariatric services.

2. Genetic, Social, Cultural, and Emotional Factors Lead to Obesity – Not a Lack of Willpower

Though a societal myth around obesity attributes its cause to a lack of willpower, this is oftentimes not the case. A combination of genetic predisposition, cultural elements, increased stress due to social/emotional factors, and even certain medications can all play a role in causing a patient to develop obesity.

3. Obesity Is a Leading Cause of Preventable Death in the United States

Obesity is second only to smoking as a leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Additionally, one in five deaths of African Americans and Caucasians aged 40 to 85 is linked to obesity. Without proactive action, this mortality rate will increase across generations. 

If you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from obesity, time is of the essence. Quick action can help prevent further complications down the line. SCMH, together with Grand Health Partners, can give you the best options for weight loss and help you begin your journey towards a healthier state of life. 

The Grand Health Partners Difference

Founded in 2008, Grand Health Partners is a medical group practice located in Grand Rapids. Grand Health Partners specializes in surgical and non-surgical weight loss solutions. Their team of experts is trained in providing coaching on dietary, behavioral, and exercise habits while the patient is safely monitored by highly-experienced bariatric physicians.

For the past 12 years and counting, they have helped over 16,000 patients with their targeted and effective bariatric services. They are, indeed, a trusted partner in transforming lives and improving overall health through tailored weight loss programs. 

Our Bariatric Services

In partnership with Grand Health Partners, Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital provides top-notch and comprehensive bariatric services. Depending on a patient’s individual case, they can opt for non-surgical weight loss methods or bariatric surgery.

Non-surgical weight loss involves the use of an expertly designed, tailor-fit medical weight management program that will safely and effectively bring the patient’s weight to a healthy or desired range – without the need for surgery.

In some cases, however, bariatric surgery may be recommended or chosen. These surgical solutions aid in long-term weight control and include sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass (Roux-En-Y), and duodenal switch. Whenever possible, the experienced bariatric surgeons from Grand Health Partners opt to perform bariatric surgeries laparoscopically – resulting in smaller incisions and a faster recovery time for the patient.

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

This is one of the most common bariatric surgical procedures. With the vertical sleeve gastrectomy, food is allowed to pass through and be processed by the digestive system like normal. However, the procedure will result in limiting the size of the stomach to about 4-6 fluid ounces by safely removing a portion of it, leaving a long vertical tube or ‘sleeve’ in its place. 

Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass

The Roux-En-Y gastric bypass bariatric surgery involves the creation of a small upper pouch for the stomach (roughly the size of an egg) and a larger “remnant” pouch. The small intestine is then rearranged so that it connects to both pouches. After the surgery, the patient will be able to feel full with less food due to the limited size of the stomach’s upper pouch. This leads to a gradual and safe weight loss process for the patient.

Duodenal Switch

The duodenal switch procedure is yet another highly effective type of bariatric surgery. The first stage of this procedure is sleeve gastrectomy which reduces the size of the stomach. Next, the small intestine is rearranged much further down so that two-thirds or more of the intestines is bypassed. 

With the decreased size of the stomach along with restricted absorption from the small intestines, patients can feel full even with moderate portions of food and will be able to keep the weight off long-term due to restricted intestinal absorption.  

Following surgery, the average bariatric patient loses 60 to 70% of excess weight within three years. It’s important to note that bariatric surgery is a weight-loss tool that requires an ongoing commitment to healthy eating and exercise.

Are You A Candidate for Bariatric Surgery?

If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 and above, you are a potentially good candidate for bariatric surgery. Additionally, your physician may be more inclined to refer you to bariatric surgery if you are suffering from the following conditions, along with the excess weight:

• Type 2 diabetes;
• Sleep apnea; and/or
• High blood pressure.

Gain More from Life Today

Undergoing healthy, physician-guided weight loss techniques and procedures provide plenty of benefits. Because the weight loss is gradual and consistent, it is physically safe and emotionally rewarding. These benefits include:

• Relief from the symptoms of metabolic syndrome;
• The long-term remission for type 2 diabetes;
• The elimination of obstructive sleep apnea;
• Relief from depression and/or other related mental health issues;
• Better joint health;
• Improved stamina, energy, and activity level; and
• Improved fertility.

If you or someone you love is suffering from obesity, we want you to remember that there are safe and effective options out there and a whole team of experienced medical professionals who are more than happy to help! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Our Bariatric Providers

Dr. Paul Kemmeter, M.D., F.A.C.S. received his B.S. from University of Michigan and his M.D. degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. He is an Assistant Professor of Surgery for Michigan State College of Human Medicine and currently serves as the Associate Program Director of the GRMERC-MSU General Surgery residency program. He is also the medical director of Bariatric Surgery at St. Mary’s Health Care. Along with performing bariatric surgery, he also performs General Surgery procedures including Acute Care surgeries and Advanced Laparoscopy including ventral and inguinal hernia surgeries, gallbladder surgery, appendectomies and other emergency surgeries

Dr. Nagle is married with two children. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting, running, scuba diving, skiing, and many other hobbies.  He is a commercial pilot and donates time to Wings of Mercy, which provides free air transportation to patients who need treatment at distant medical facilities.

Education

• Board Certifications: American Board of Surgery
• Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center – MSU
• Medical School: University of North Dakota School of Medicine
• Undergraduate: BS from North Dakota State University

 

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