The only bariatric assessment service between Ottawa and Toronto, the Kingston Bariatric Centre of Excellence serves patients who require assessment and treatment for obesity and morbid obesity. This means easier access to care closer to home.
Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) not only has multi-disciplinary experts qualified to care for people living with obesity it also offers quality care for patients and families through complementary programs associated with the co-morbidities of obesity, including diabetes education, cardiac wellness and endocrinology.
Our team includes a medical director, program manager, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, registered dietitians, social workers, psychologists, clerical staff, internal medicine specialists such as endocrinologists, and surgeons.
Hours of operation
Monday to Friday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Referrals
Individuals must be referred by their family doctor or a nurse practitioner (NP) through the Ontario Bariatric Network (OBN) Registry. To refer a patient through the OBN, family doctors and NPs are asked to complete an online referral form here.
NOTE: Health-care providers cannot refer directly to the Kingston Bariatric Centre of Excellence and patients cannot refer themselves.
Services
- Surgical care that includes high-quality pre-surgical assessment and post-surgical follow-up services for adults requiring weight loss surgery.
- Medical weight management program (non-surgical) for individuals who do not qualify for surgery, do not want to pursue surgery at this time, or who do not have a significant history of past weight management attempts.
Preparation
- Bring your valid Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card.
- Bring a list of current medications or your medications in their original bottles, as well as a list of over-the-counter medications, including vitamins, inhalers, pills, and nasal sprays.
What you can expect
Your first visit with our nurse practitioner or registered nurse
This visit will take 45-60 minutes.
Your height, weight, and waist circumference will be recorded during this visit, and you will have a physical examination.
You will talk about topics such as your medical history, Roux-en-y and gastric sleeve surgeries, preparing for bariatric surgery and possible complications, as well as other available weight-loss options.
Please note: You may be asked to complete bloodwork and an ECG. Please complete these tests as soon as you can, as they will need to be reviewed by our nurse practitioner before you can start our program.
Your first visit with our registered dietitian
This visit will take 60-90 minutes. Please bring the following:
- All nutrient supplements and herbal supplements that you currently take
- A three-day food and beverage diary (written or online version)
- Your blood sugar record book, if you have diabetes
- A snack and some water, if you are having blood work done on the day of your visit
If you are preparing for bariatric surgery, please note the following:
- You will be asked to make lifestyle changes before your surgery, including changing food choices, changing eating habits, coping with problem eating, changing beverage choices, and more
- The registered dietitian will invite you back when you've made these changes. You will follow up with the registered dietitian 1 to 4 times after your first visit (visits are 30-60 minutes)
If you are preparing for the Medical Weight Management Program, please note the following:
- Based on the information you provide, the registered dietitian may ask you to return for a follow-up before the program starts
- Pre-program workshops run by a registered dietitian are available while you are on the waiting list
