Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center Recognized by CIGNA Healthcare as a Certified Hospital for Bariatric Surgery

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. Feb. 8, 2007 – Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center has been designated by CIGNA HealthCare as a CIGNA Certified Hospital for Bariatric Surgery. The CIGNA designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record and favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery.

CIGNA HealthCare created its certification program to help identify and recognize bariatric surgery programs that have lower complication rates and a commitment to ongoing quality improvement and clinical care. According to a study released this month by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of middle-aged Americans undergoing surgery for obesity skyrocketed between 1998 and 2004, from 13,386 to more than 120,000, creating a need to give consumers information about the performance of facilities offering bariatric surgery. Designation as a CIGNA Certified Hospital for Bariatric Surgery was granted after evaluation on an array of clinical criteria that assessed and measured a hospital’s surgical processes and health outcomes.

“Our designation as a CIGNA Certified Hospital for Bariatric Surgery is a testament to our highly skilled and experienced team of physicians and nurses at the Center for Obesity who are dedicated to improving the health of our community,” said Marcia Manker, CEO of Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center. “We will continue to enhance our services and provide our patients with the gold standard for comprehensive bariatric care.”

"We know that our members want more information about quality and outcomes in their health care decisions. Our hospital certification program for bariatric surgery is an effort to help empower our members to make more informed health care choices using meaningful quality information. We are pleased that Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center voluntarily participated in this process and was certified," adds James Wang, M.D., chief medical officer for CIGNA HealthCare of California.

“It is an honor for us to be recognized for our ability to provide safe and effective surgical care to patients of size,” said Peter C. LePort, M.D., medical director of Orange Coast Memorial’s Center for Obesity and its team that has performed more than 5,000 weight loss procedures. “In fighting this worldwide epidemic, we are working diligently to remain on the leading-edge of surgical techniques and post operative care to ensure the best results for our patients.”

CIGNA HealthCare, based in Bloomfield, CT, provides medical benefits plans, dental coverage, behavioral health coverage, pharmacy benefits and products and services that integrate and analyze information to support consumerism and health advocacy. "CIGNA HealthCare" refers to certain operations of Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, which is an operating subsidiary of CIGNA Corporation (NYSE:CI). Products and services are provided by such operating subsidiaries, and not by CIGNA Corporation. For information, visit www.cigna.com.