May 12-18 is National Hospital Week—a time to pause and recognize the incredible hospitals and healthcare professionals who keep our communities healthy and strong. From the emergency room to the recovery room (and everything in between), these teams work around the clock to deliver care we often take for granted until we need it most.
At Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery, we are especially grateful for our partnership with UAB St. Vincent’s Hospital. Their caregivers, nurses, and surgeons have been vital parts of our patients’ journeys, offering medical expertise, genuine compassion, and peace of mind. We want to take a moment to say thank you and shine a light on the impact UAB St. Vincent’s continues to have on the lives of those we serve.
UAB St. Vincent’s Hospital and Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery
Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery has a strong connection to UAB St. Vincent’s. Our partnership with this trusted medical center gives our bariatric patients peace of mind, knowing they’ll receive excellent care and have added support if an emergency arises. But beyond that, there are many reasons we’re proud to work alongside the team at UAB St. Vincent’s.
Here are just a few of the reasons we value this partnership:
Ongoing Education & Training
We’re always looking for ways to better serve our patients, and continuing education plays a big role in that. Thanks to our partnership with UAB St. Vincent’s, our surgeons and care team have access to advanced training on weight-loss procedures and other important topics, helping us stay up to date on the best ways to support our bariatric patients.
We’re also able to share that knowledge by offering seminars to other providers and educational resources to our patients right here in Birmingham. From support groups to online nutrition classes, these programs empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health, goals, and long-term success.
Better Customized Care
We understand that every patient we meet has unique goals and needs. Before every procedure, we provide an initial consultation to discuss the patient’s desired outcome and lifestyle. Based on this consultation, we can create a care plan that is tailored to each individual.
From these consultations, we will sometimes seek the support of our partners at UAB St. Vincent’s Hospital when specific situations arise. Some patients with extremely high BMIs or those who require more invasive procedures will be recommended to have surgery at UAB St. Vincent’s, but our care team remains part of our patients’ lives by providing follow-up appointments and other necessary referrals.
Professional Emergency Assistance
No surgery comes without inherent risks, including bariatric surgeries. While most procedures are done on an outpatient basis, our partnership with UAB St. Vincent’s Hospital provides patients with peace of mind, as complications from surgery often require support beyond what we offer at our surgical center.
However, if there is an emergency, bariatric surgery patients can be transferred to a hospital for additional care with ease. The patient’s surgeon will discuss all possible risks at the initial consultation.
Unmatched Affordability
Some insurance policies may cover bariatric surgery, but many do not, which makes access to this type of life-changing care expensive. Through our partnership with UAB St. Vincent’s Hospital, Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery can negotiate more affordable rates for our patients.
Our partnership allows BMI to offer one of the lowest prices for gastric sleeve surgery in the United States. We also offer financing options for our patients who qualify.
Consistent Care
Primary care clinics will often refer patients to surgical centers like Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery for bariatric treatment. Because we partner with UAB St. Vincent’s Hospitals, our surgical center can easily access patient records to provide consistent care for our bariatric patients.
The primary care physicians at UAB St. Vincent’s Hospital also have easy access to patient records from the surgical center, which allows them to provide necessary follow-up care without patients having to spend time obtaining records to share with their providers.
Expertise You Can Trust: Dr. Long, Board-Certified Surgeon at UAB St. Vincent’s
Our partnership with UAB St. Vincent’s wouldn’t be complete without highlighting the incredible expertise of Dr. Long. A board-certified general surgeon with over 20 years of experience in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Long brings both skill and compassion to every patient he treats.
After completing a fellowship at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, he went on to earn recognition for his work in laparoscopic surgery and has been a trusted provider of weight-loss surgery ever since. He is a proud member of the American College of Surgery Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery and is certified in LAP-Band Total Care. Since opening his practice in 2006, Dr. Long has continued to serve patients at both UAB St. Vincent’s East and UAB St. Vincent’s St. Clair—bringing high-quality care to the Birmingham community and beyond.
His experience and commitment are a key part of why our collaboration with UAB St. Vincent’s is so impactful for our patients.
Find the Right Bariatric Surgical Center in Alabama with Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery
When you decide to have weight loss surgery, there are a lot of choices to be made, including where to have your procedure done. Choosing a bariatric surgical center that partners with a local hospital ensures you will have optimal care and peace of mind. To learn more about the surgical center at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery and our partnership with UAB St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, contact us at (205) 858-1211.
