Pants Across Sky Ridge - An Inspirational Display Celebrating the Triumph Over Obesity

DENVER, CO, January 27, 2011

Sky Ridge Medical Center's Bariatric Center of Excellence is holding its fifth annual reception to celebrate a number of patients' recent triumph over obesity on Jan. 27 in the Sky Ridge Medical Center lobby. This reception, accompanied by a "before" and "after" pants display in the hospital lobby, will document the life-changing weight loss the patients are enjoying as a result of undergoing bariatric procedures at Sky Ridge Medical Center.

The program, entitled "Pants Across Sky Ridge," is a combination of a kick-off reception for former patients and their families and a weeklong display of the patients' "before" and "after" pants on the lobby wall along with stories and photos. The reception, scheduled for Jan. 27 from 6-8:30 p.m., will introduce three bariatric surgery patients who have won a free makeover. The three patients are: Alice Hauck (lost 160 lbs.), Jo Ann (lost 116 lbs.), and Sharon (lost 50 lbs.). Each will receive a new outfit donated by Kim's Closet, have their hair done by Timothy D's salon and make-up done by Heathyrre Kautz Couture.

"I was 355 pounds. I had Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and needed to have two total knee replacements," said Hauck. "I now enjoy an active lifestyle I never had before."

Collectively, the Sky Ridge Medical Center bariatric program patients have lost 70,000 pounds. The program involves an integrated team of experts to help the patients through the lifestyle changes that accompany weight-loss. Bariatric candidates must be 50 or more pounds overweight, have a high body mass index and be committed to the lifestyle changes that go with the program.

"It takes a team approach to help significantly overweight people change their lives," said Dr. Frank Chae, Colorado bariatric surgeon at Sky Ridge Medical Center. "Patients don't come out of surgery 100 pounds lighter, it takes time, a very strict diet and hard work to be successful."

Sky Ridge's Bariatric Center for Excellence includes several different options for weight-loss surgery including adjustable gastric banding surgery, laparoscopic gastric sleeve and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. For a free weight-loss consultation visit our Denver Bariatric Surgery Center.

About Sky Ridge Medical Center
Sky Ridge Medical Center, which opened on August 20, 2003, is a full-service, acute care hospital that offers state-of-the-art healthcare services in a warm, compassionate environment. This highly regarded facility has the people and expertise to set the standard in the new century for health, healing and comfort as evidenced by top ratings in patient satisfaction and quality indicators.

About HealthONE
HealthONE is the largest healthcare system in the metro Denver area with 8,500 employees and 3,000 affiliated physicians. Named Colorado's "Best Company for Working Families (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007), the health system was created in 1995 as a 50/50 joint venture between non-profit The Colorado Health Foundation (formerly HealthONE Alliance), Colorado's second largest charitable foundation, and various affiliates of HCA. HealthONE includes: The Medical Center of Aurora and Centennial Medical Plaza; North Suburban Medical Center; Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center; Rose Medical Center; Sky Ridge Medical Center; Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital; Swedish Medical Center and Swedish Southwest ER; 12 ambulatory surgical centers; more than 30 occupational medicine/rehabilitation, sports medicine, specialty, and outpatient diagnostic imaging clinics; and AIRLIFE, which provides critical care air and ground transportation for an eight-state region.