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2016 | Doing Business in Connecticut 39 SPONSORED REPORT 2016 | Doing Business in Connecticut XX Growth Through Investment To ensure superior care, ECHN not only attracts the most accomplished physicians, nurses and allied health providers, but also makes smart and timely investments in technology. The Future of Bariatric Surgery More than two out of three adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese. And that statistic has doubled just in the past 30 years. Obesity can lead to severe health problems including diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, joint and back pain and cardiovascular concerns. Beyond the obvious impact on people's lives, obesity also stresses the health care system, considering the signifi cant costs to care for this growing population. ECHN recognized the need to address this health crisis to both improve the lives of people in the community and to reduce the complexities of ongoing health challenges for those patients. To that end, ECHN will soon open one of the region's most advanced bariatric surgery practices at Manchester Memorial Hospital. A combination of the best technology and an expert surgeon, ECHN's bariatric surgery program will offer several weight loss surgery options including the LAP-BAND® system, gastric sleeve and gastric bypass. These procedures are generally intended for the patient whose health is threatened, but cannot lose weight through dieting, exercise or medications alone. ECHN recently invested in the newest and most advanced bariatric surgery technology – the da Vinci XI Robotic Surgical System. At the helm of this amazing machine, the bariatric surgeon's movements are translated to a set of tiny robotic "fi ngers" that assist the surgeon in performing the operation. This dexterity, combined with an unprecedented view of the operation, allows for a much less invasive procedure, resulting in a smaller incision, often less pain and bleeding, and, for the patient, a quicker return to daily activities. To head up the bariatric surgery practice, ECHN recruited one of the region's most experienced surgeons. Dr. Mark Tousignant has performed more bariatric general will result in the state's only inpatient unit dedicated to patients with eating disorders. Having recognized the need for eating disorder treatment in the region, ECHN previously worked with Walden to open an outpatient clinic in South Windsor. Public response made it clear that additional services and capacity would greatly benefi t the region and beyond. In 2016, ECHN and Walden will open the only inpatient and in-hospital eating disorders practice in Connecticut. Located at Rockville General Hospital in Vernon, the center will provide all urgent and ongoing medical services with 24-hour-a-day care. Also, the group setting of the center will allow for more effective counseling and therapy approaches. "This will not only be a best-in-class facility, it will be one-of-a-kind," says Dr. Mariela Podolski, Medical Director of the new facility. "Patients with eating disorders, from New York to Massachusetts, will fi nally have access to professional medical care, therapy and peer support all in one place." Robotic-Assisted Surgery at a Glance ECHN's new da Vinci XI Robotic Surgical System makes bariatric weight loss surgery more precise and less invasive. SPONSORED REPORT