What this program does...

The bariatric program provides:

• Preoperative assessment and education for patients seeking bariatric surgery
• Laparoscopic Bariatric surgery
  • The following is a list of surgeries offered at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Your surgeon will discuss the best option for you if you are a candidate for surgery.
    • Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
    • Gastric Sleeve
    • Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch
• Postoperative assessment and education and long term follow-up

If you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, it requires a serious lifelong commitment by you with changes in eating habits and lifestyle. You play a vital role in ensuring the success of your surgery. The process requires extensive preparation, many appointments before and after surgery, education, and long-term changes to your diet and lifestyle.

To learn more about the The Bariatric Medical Weight Management Clinic at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, click here.

How this program helps...

Obesity rates in Ontario are higher than they have ever been. Over 150,000 people are eligible for intervention. The rise in obesity is leading to a rise in obesity related illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and some cancers. Bariatric surgery has been proven to improve these conditions with weight loss.

Your Care Team

The Bariatric Team here at St. Josephs Healthcare Hamilton consists of Surgeons, General Internal Medicine Physicians, Psychiatrist, Nurses, Social Workers, Dietitians, Clerks and other physicians as required.

Patients who are thinking about having bariatric surgery must have a thorough medical and psychological assessment beforehand.

Contact

*Please note as of September 11, 2014, the Bariatric Clinic has moved to the West 5th Campus. 
Level 0, Block C
Frank Charles Miller, Medical Outpatient Clinic

Bariatric Surgery Program
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
West 5th Campus
100 West 5th St. L9C 0E3
Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6
Telephone: 905-522-1155 Ext. 33240
Fax: 905-521-6152

Referral Process

Patients must meet the following criteria to be eligible for surgery:

• BMI of greater than 35 with co-morbidities or,
• A BMI greater than 40
• Be motivated and willing to make eating and lifestyle changes
• Be willing to work with the multidisciplinary team
• Participate in long-term follow-up

Referrals will ONLY be accepted by a referring physician through the Bariatric Registry. For more information, please visit https://referrals.ontariobariatricnetwork.ca/#portal

With the bariatric registry referral process, physicians will refer patients to the centralized referral portal, where the referral will be distributed to a Bariatric Centre of Excellence (BCOE) or Regional Assessment and Treatment Centre (RATC) based on the patient’s postal code. The BCOE or RATC will then contact the patient to schedule an orientation session. Patients can request to be treated elsewhere, but distributing patients in this way helps alleviate wait times, and all Ontario patients seeking bariatric treatment must be assessed at an Ontario Bariatric Centre prior to receiving treatment, even if out-of-country treatment is desired.

Preparing for Your Visit

A great starting point is to visit the www.ontariobariatricnetwork.ca website, where you will find very useful information on Bariatric Surgery including, what to expect, what you can do in advance and other suggested reading material. There is also a listing of support groups that you can connect with. The site also features links to many of the educational materials we have available in the program. We will hand out many of the questionnaires in class but if you want to get a head start you can print them off and complete.

To get ready for surgery and be in the best health possible to recover you need to make some lifestyle changes before surgery. Members of your health care Team will advise you as to your plan before surgery but you must stop:

• Smoking (6mths before surgery)
• Using non-prescription or illicit drugs (6 mths before surgery)
• Drinking alcohol, beer and wine (2 mths before surgery)
• Consuming caffeine (2 mths before surgery)
• Carbonated beverages (2 mths before surgery)

We ask that you do not bring any valuables with you as the hospital cannot be responsible for lost or stolen personal items. 

Registration Procedures

Please bring your Health card to all visit.

After Your Visit

If you are a candidate for surgery, it requires a serious lifelong commitment by you with changes in eating habits and lifestyle. You play a vital role in ensuring the success of your surgery. It requires much preparation, many appointments before and after surgery, education, and long-term changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Patients who have had surgery will be able to attend a monthly peer support group.

Support Group Information

Location: St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, West 5th Campus
                 100 West 5th St. 
                 Hamilton, ON L9C 0E3

For more information about the peer support group, contact 905-522-1155 ext. 33089

Resources