Bariatric Nurse Educator
Kathy Hart is a specialized Bariatric Nurse Educator at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s. Serving as a dedicated Patient Navigator, she accompanies patients through every step of their journey—from the initial inquiry and pre-operative preparation to long-term post-operative lifestyle maintenance.
1. Identification & Government Verification (NPI)
The National Provider Identifier (NPI) is the unique medical identifier used to verify professional roles within the U.S. healthcare system:
- NPI Number (National Provider Identifier): 1568603636
- Practice Status: Active
- Title: Registered Nurse (RN) / Bariatric Nurse Educator
- Organization: UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Weight Loss Center
- Address: 2720 Stone Park Blvd, Sioux City, IA 51104
- Official Verification: NPI Registry – Kathy Hart
2. Certifications & Expertise
- Credentials: Registered Nurse (RN) – Licensed by the Iowa Board of Nursing.
- Specialized Expertise: Bariatric Surgery Education Specialist. She has completed advanced clinical training to support patients undergoing complex procedures, including Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve.
- Professional Membership: Active participant in the educational programs of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
3. Clinical Specialization & Scope of Care
Kathy Hart focuses on personalizing the educational pathway for each bariatric patient:
- Patient Pathway Coordination: Guiding patients through the rigorous insurance requirements and clinical clearances necessary for surgery.
- Nutritional & Behavioral Education: Training patients on post-operative liquid diets, essential vitamin supplementation, and the critical importance of physical activity.
- Support Group Management: Organizing and facilitating patient support groups to share experiences and maintain long-term weight loss motivation.
4. Digital Authority & Verification Links
As a Nurse Educator and Patient Navigator, Kathy’s professional presence is highlighted within hospital directories and specialized nursing networks:
- UnityPoint Health Profile: St. Luke’s Weight Loss Team (Where she is recognized as a key member of the multidisciplinary team).
- Doximity Profile: Kathy Hart, RN on Doximity (Verified professional tenure in Iowa).
- Healthgrades: While Nurse Educators typically do not have individual rating pages on Healthgrades (which is prioritized for MDs/PAs), her reputation is intrinsically linked to the excellence of the St. Luke’s Weight Loss Center—a facility recognized for its superior bariatric care standards.
5. Scientific Contributions & Publications
Kathy Hart emphasizes Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in patient education. She contributes to the development of internal bariatric patient manuals for UnityPoint Health, focusing on the reduction of post-operative complications through comprehensive pre-surgical education.