DayOne Health Chicago Offers Free Lap-band® Surgery

(I-Newswire) August 5, 2010 - Between July 24th and October 31st prospective patients may enter the DayOne Health LAP-BAND® Give Away Contest. Entrants must submit a 500 word essay that states why they desire LAP-BAND® surgery and why they should be chosen among all submissions. A panel consisting of DayOne Health employees and former weight loss surgery patients will select the most compelling submission. The winner will be announced on December 1st and will receive a free LAP-BAND® Surgery at the DayOne Health freestanding ambulatory surgery center in Chicago plus twelve months of follow-up care.

Obesity has been recognized as an epidemic national health issue that cannot be solved with diet and exercise alone. In fact, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) has concluded that weight loss surgery may be the only effective, long-term weight loss therapy for those with a BMI over 35.

Still, many do not select this effective therapy because of cost.
“Today, over 30% of Illinois residents are classified as obese and are medically qualified for bariatric surgery. However, the economic downturn combined with the challenge in obtaining insurance approval is ruling this therapy out for many eligible Chicago residents. Worse, we’ve seen an increase in patients who travel to Mexico looking for affordable surgery, only to return and need committed follow-up care in Chicago,” says Guita Griffiths, President of DayOne Health.” “Our contest is designed to encourage Chicago residents who are considering LAP-BAND® Surgery to think about their safety first. Many who enter will find that bariatric surgery is fully or partially covered by their insurance company eliminating the need to travel to Mexico. Others will learn about affordable financing options or tax benefits while one lucky winner will have their surgery covered by DayOne Health.”

Patients who seek surgery outside of the country are not guaranteed the same level of care as they are in the United States where Bariatric Centers of Excellence, such as DayOne Health, must demonstrate patient safety and favorable outcomes. In addition, patients are not guaranteed to receive FDA approved medical devices when seeking surgery abroad.

The DayOne Health LAP-BAND® Give Away contest is open to all persons who are 18 years of age or older and meet the medical eligibility requirements. Full contest rules and entry forms can be found at www.dayonehealth.com.

About Day One Health:
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, DayOne Health performed its first outpatient LAP-BAND® surgery at 900 North Michigan Surgery Center in November 2001, shortly after the procedure was approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (June 5, 2001). In March 20 2008, DayOne health has been designated as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence (BSCOE) by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). DayOne Health is home to some of the most experienced bariatric surgeons in the country and specializes in the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or LAP-BAND® procedure, a safer and less invasive bariatric surgery alternative to gastric bypass. As part of their program, DayOne Health provides its patients with a comprehensive pre-surgical patient education program, nutritional counseling, state-of-the-art outpatient surgical facilities, expert medical staff and extensive after care support. Further information about DayOne Health and its outpatient LAP-BAND® surgical weight loss program can be found at www.dayonehealth.com.

Company Contact Information
Day One Health
Guita Griffiths
60 East Delaware Place, Chicago, IL
60611
Phone : Contact: Guita Griff