Dedicated to Caregivers of Bariatric Surgical Patients

My team and I came across a patient who had weight-loss surgery several years back in a different state. She had some complications, and those who were trying to take care of her were struggling to figure out what to do. One of my partners was asked about it, and he immediately knew this recovery would be a long and drawn out course. My partner decided to take this patient on his service and provide follow-up management. His reason was, “She needed a doctor.”

I think those four words embody the vision of Bariatric Surgical Practice and Patient Care, and therefore I dedicate this editorial to those who care for and support the care of bariatric surgical patients.

Caring for the bariatric surgical patient is time- and resource-consuming, but the dividends are significant for the patient and for society. For the clinician, bariatric surgery requires unparalleled skills and clinical acumen, and everyone I know in this field does it because of the conviction that a monumental and lasting improvement can be made in a patient's life.

This quarterly Journal currently has a global reach of 140 countries and is indexed in Current Contents, Science Citation Index, Expanded, Scopus, and CINAHL. We want to disseminate practical information rapidly that is rigorously vetted through our peer-review process. We prize scholarship, best practices, novel information, and outcomes-driven innovations. Information that helps the team discern value-based care is always a priority. The expanded editorial board represents the broad disciplines of this field, including experts from different parts of the world. I thank all of them for their willingness to serve and sharing the vision for this Journal. Additionally, in the last 4 months that I have worked on this Journal, I have found the publisher to be refreshingly flexible and willing to embrace unconventional ways of delivering health information.

Previews of forthcoming topics include evidence-based assessment of cardiopulmonary risks for bariatric surgery that can be used by any member of the health care team, and presentations from the 2013 International Bariatric Club Symposium that will capture the discussions of global experts.

Lastly, I need to thank Kristin Seidl for her previous leadership of this Journal. She has kept everything in excellent functional order and effortless for me to carry the torch.

My goal for the future of this Journal is this: that it will be eagerly read by surgeons, physicians, nurses, technicians, healthcare leadership, managers, physcian assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), employers, businesses, and policy makers alike because it is about the coordinated delivery of best patient practices.