Re: News article about obese patients and hospitals

[Guest guest]

Hi Francisco!!

Ive missed you!!

>

> Hello everyone:

>

> I've been out of the loop lately. Work is crazy, and well, so is

> dating. Too many men!

>

> Anyway, here's an article from yahoo about hospitals and obese

> patients. I think it's interesting. Hope you do too...

>

> ST. LOUIS - Going to the hospital is rarely fun. If you weigh over

> 300 pounds like Beth Henk, it can be embarrassing.

>

> " I've flipped an exam table — I sat on the end of it and it just

> flipped up, " said Henk, whose weight peaked at 745. When her son

was

> born three years ago, " I had to sit in the hospital bed the whole

> time — the hospital's rocker wouldn't fit my butt. "

>

> Today Henk helps -Jewish Hospital in St. Louis find better

ways

> to deal with the growing number of very obese patients, an issue

for

> many U.S. hospitals. -Jewish is replacing beds and

wheelchairs

> with bigger models, widening doorways, buying larger CT scan

> machines, even replacing slippers and gowns.

>

> Last year, patient care director Colleen Becker decided to check

the

> numbers. She looked at a daily hospital census — about one-third of

> the 900 patients weighed 350 pounds or more.

>

> Startled, Becker checked another date, then another. The numbers

were

> consistent. On some days, half the patients were obese. Some

weighed

> 500 pounds or more.

>

> " We ran the data again to make sure we weren't hallucinating, "

Becker

> said. " We weren't. So we had to somehow figure out the appropriate

> supplies, equipment, training and care for the patients we're

dealing

> with. "

>

> The answer was a " bariatric care team, " which Henk serves on, to

> address the challenges posed by obese patients. Those challenges

are

> many.

>

> Hospitals around the nation are working with equipment suppliers to

> accommodate larger patients, said Lietz, a spokeswoman

for

> the American Hospital Association. And it's not just for the

patients.

>

> ATF Healthcare, a union representing 70,000 nurses and other

workers

> at hospitals in 18 states, last week called for new laws forcing

> hospitals to buy equipment such as portable hoists to prevent

worker

> injuries.

>

> A union-commissioned survey of more than 900 nurses and X-ray

> technicians found the majority have chronic pain or have suffered

> injuries from lifting and moving patients.

>

> At -Jewish, lift machines help some patients get in and out

of

> bed. Chairs have been made stronger and wider. Lights have been

added

> at floor level because the bodies of extremely obese people can

cast

> a shadow that makes it hard to see the floor.

>

> The hospital is replacing many of its beds — built to handle people

> weighing up to 350 pounds — with beds for 500-pound patients.

>

> " Three-hundred-fifty pounds is nowhere near what we need for beds

> now, " said Art Kidrow, a nurse manager at -Jewish. " We've had

> some 650-pounders up here. "

>

> Some wings of -Jewish are replacing 36-inch-wide doorways

with

> those that are 48 or 52 inches wide. The bathrooms are being fitted

> with floor-mounted commodes that can't be pulled out of the wall,

and

> rooms reconfigured so patients can essentially get out of bed and

> step into the bathroom.

>

> Gowns are bigger. Wheelchairs are wider. Even hospital-issued

> slippers come in extra-large sizes because the standard-issued

> footies were cutting off circulation for some patients.

>

> Issues extend beyond the patient's room. Operating tables have been

> widened because the girth of some patients was lapping over the

> table, in some cases all the way to the floor, Becker said. CT scan

> machines weren't wide enough. Syringes with the longest available

> needles — 4 1/2 inches — couldn't penetrate the fat.

>

> Along with doctors and nurses, the hospital's 30-member bariatric

> care team includes former patients like Henk and people from the

> hospital's engineering and housekeeping units.

>

> Henk, 41, represents both patients and those who try to help the

> obese — she is program manager for Washington University's weight

> management program.

>

> She's been heavy for as long as she can remember — she was in

Weight

> Watchers by age 5. " Everybody in my family is at least 100 pounds

> overweight, " she said.

>

> Gastric bypass surgery seven years ago helped her shed some weight,

> but she's dropped to 315 pounds mostly through better eating and

> exercise.

>

> Still, she knows what larger people go through at the hospital.

>

> " I believe in dignity for whomever you are, " Henk said. " It can be

> scary, too. If people are trying to lift you up and somebody

doesn't

> have the strength, it's very scary. "

>

> Based on recommendations from the team, -Jewish has developed

a

> protocol for lifting heavy patients.

>

> The hospital is also working with suppliers. Manufacturers now

offer

> more than 1,000 items specifically for obese patients, said Sandy

> Wise, of Novation LLC, a Texas-based company that provides

> contracting services between hospitals and manufacturers.

>

> " It's been a trend probably for the last four or five years, " Wise

> said. " Hospitals are continuing to see an increase in obese

patients,

> and it affects every department. You have to think of the patient

> from head to toe, everything they do in the hospital until they

walk

> out the door or they die. "

>

> In fact, -Jewish is striving to make even the end more

> dignified. Becker said the law requires a leak-proof body bag. Some

> patients were so large they wouldn't fit in them. The hospital is

> working with a vendor to develop a wider bag.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Francisco!!

Ive missed you!!

>

> Hello everyone:

>

> I've been out of the loop lately. Work is crazy, and well, so is

> dating. Too many men!

>

> Anyway, here's an article from yahoo about hospitals and obese

> patients. I think it's interesting. Hope you do too...

>

> ST. LOUIS - Going to the hospital is rarely fun. If you weigh over

> 300 pounds like Beth Henk, it can be embarrassing.

>

> " I've flipped an exam table — I sat on the end of it and it just

> flipped up, " said Henk, whose weight peaked at 745. When her son

was

> born three years ago, " I had to sit in the hospital bed the whole

> time — the hospital's rocker wouldn't fit my butt. "

>

> Today Henk helps -Jewish Hospital in St. Louis find better

ways

> to deal with the growing number of very obese patients, an issue

for

> many U.S. hospitals. -Jewish is replacing beds and

wheelchairs

> with bigger models, widening doorways, buying larger CT scan

> machines, even replacing slippers and gowns.

>

> Last year, patient care director Colleen Becker decided to check

the

> numbers. She looked at a daily hospital census — about one-third of

> the 900 patients weighed 350 pounds or more.

>

> Startled, Becker checked another date, then another. The numbers

were

> consistent. On some days, half the patients were obese. Some

weighed

> 500 pounds or more.

>

> " We ran the data again to make sure we weren't hallucinating, "

Becker

> said. " We weren't. So we had to somehow figure out the appropriate

> supplies, equipment, training and care for the patients we're

dealing

> with. "

>

> The answer was a " bariatric care team, " which Henk serves on, to

> address the challenges posed by obese patients. Those challenges

are

> many.

>

> Hospitals around the nation are working with equipment suppliers to

> accommodate larger patients, said Lietz, a spokeswoman

for

> the American Hospital Association. And it's not just for the

patients.

>

> ATF Healthcare, a union representing 70,000 nurses and other

workers

> at hospitals in 18 states, last week called for new laws forcing

> hospitals to buy equipment such as portable hoists to prevent

worker

> injuries.

>

> A union-commissioned survey of more than 900 nurses and X-ray

> technicians found the majority have chronic pain or have suffered

> injuries from lifting and moving patients.

>

> At -Jewish, lift machines help some patients get in and out

of

> bed. Chairs have been made stronger and wider. Lights have been

added

> at floor level because the bodies of extremely obese people can

cast

> a shadow that makes it hard to see the floor.

>

> The hospital is replacing many of its beds — built to handle people

> weighing up to 350 pounds — with beds for 500-pound patients.

>

> " Three-hundred-fifty pounds is nowhere near what we need for beds

> now, " said Art Kidrow, a nurse manager at -Jewish. " We've had

> some 650-pounders up here. "

>

> Some wings of -Jewish are replacing 36-inch-wide doorways

with

> those that are 48 or 52 inches wide. The bathrooms are being fitted

> with floor-mounted commodes that can't be pulled out of the wall,

and

> rooms reconfigured so patients can essentially get out of bed and

> step into the bathroom.

>

> Gowns are bigger. Wheelchairs are wider. Even hospital-issued

> slippers come in extra-large sizes because the standard-issued

> footies were cutting off circulation for some patients.

>

> Issues extend beyond the patient's room. Operating tables have been

> widened because the girth of some patients was lapping over the

> table, in some cases all the way to the floor, Becker said. CT scan

> machines weren't wide enough. Syringes with the longest available

> needles — 4 1/2 inches — couldn't penetrate the fat.

>

> Along with doctors and nurses, the hospital's 30-member bariatric

> care team includes former patients like Henk and people from the

> hospital's engineering and housekeeping units.

>

> Henk, 41, represents both patients and those who try to help the

> obese — she is program manager for Washington University's weight

> management program.

>

> She's been heavy for as long as she can remember — she was in

Weight

> Watchers by age 5. " Everybody in my family is at least 100 pounds

> overweight, " she said.

>

> Gastric bypass surgery seven years ago helped her shed some weight,

> but she's dropped to 315 pounds mostly through better eating and

> exercise.

>

> Still, she knows what larger people go through at the hospital.

>

> " I believe in dignity for whomever you are, " Henk said. " It can be

> scary, too. If people are trying to lift you up and somebody

doesn't

> have the strength, it's very scary. "

>

> Based on recommendations from the team, -Jewish has developed

a

> protocol for lifting heavy patients.

>

> The hospital is also working with suppliers. Manufacturers now

offer

> more than 1,000 items specifically for obese patients, said Sandy

> Wise, of Novation LLC, a Texas-based company that provides

> contracting services between hospitals and manufacturers.

>

> " It's been a trend probably for the last four or five years, " Wise

> said. " Hospitals are continuing to see an increase in obese

patients,

> and it affects every department. You have to think of the patient

> from head to toe, everything they do in the hospital until they

walk

> out the door or they die. "

>

> In fact, -Jewish is striving to make even the end more

> dignified. Becker said the law requires a leak-proof body bag. Some

> patients were so large they wouldn't fit in them. The hospital is

> working with a vendor to develop a wider bag.

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Francisco, I was just thinking you were being

too quiet! So tell us the latest on As

Francisco's World Turns (at least as much as

you're comfortable sharing)! Inquiring (nosy?) minds want to know!

I just saw a news item about how the ambulance

service in Las Vegas has just put into service a

special ambulance which is set up for morbidly obese patients.

I also remember how irked one gal was,

legitimately I might add, when she went to the

Richmond orientation, and there weren't any chairs she could fit in!

At 04:40 03/31/2006, you wrote:

>Hello everyone:

>

>I've been out of the loop lately. Work is crazy, and well, so is

>dating. Too many men!

>

>Anyway, here's an article from yahoo about hospitals and obese

>patients. I think it's interesting. Hope you do too...

>

>ST. LOUIS - Going to the hospital is rarely fun. If you weigh over

>300 pounds like Beth Henk, it can be embarrassing.

>

> " I've flipped an exam table — I sat on the end of it and it just

>flipped up, " said Henk, whose weight peaked at 745. When her son was

>born three years ago, " I had to sit in the hospital bed the whole

>time — the hospital's rocker wouldn't fit my butt. "

>

>Today Henk helps -Jewish Hospital in St.

>Louis find better ways to deal with the growing

>number of very obese patients, an issue for many

>U.S. hospitals. -Jewish is replacing beds

>and wheelchairs with bigger models, widening

>doorways, buying larger CT scan machines, even replacing slippers and gowns.

>

>Last year, patient care director Colleen Becker decided to check the

>numbers. She looked at a daily hospital census — about one-third of

>the 900 patients weighed 350 pounds or more.

>

>Startled, Becker checked another date, then

>another. The numbers were onsistent. On some

>days, half the patients were obese. Some weighed 500 pounds or more.

>

> " We ran the data again to make sure we weren't

>hallucinating, " Becker said. " We weren't. So we

>had to somehow figure out the appropriate

>supplies, equipment, training and care for the patients we're dealing with. "

>

>The answer was a " bariatric care team, " which Henk serves on, to

>address the challenges posed by obese patients. Those challenges are

>many.

>

>Hospitals around the nation are working with equipment suppliers to

>accommodate larger patients, said Lietz, a spokeswoman for

>the American Hospital Association. And it's not just for the patients.

>

>ATF Healthcare, a union representing 70,000 nurses and other workers

>at hospitals in 18 states, last week called for new laws forcing

>hospitals to buy equipment such as portable hoists to prevent worker

>injuries.

>

>A union-commissioned survey of more than 900 nurses and X-ray

>technicians found the majority have chronic pain or have suffered

>injuries from lifting and moving patients.

>

>At -Jewish, lift machines help some patients get in and out of

>bed. Chairs have been made stronger and wider.

>Lights have been added at floor level because

>the bodies of extremely obese people can cast a

>shadow that makes it hard to see the floor.

>

>The hospital is replacing many of its beds — built to handle people

>weighing up to 350 pounds — with beds for 500-pound patients.

>

> " Three-hundred-fifty pounds is nowhere near what we need for beds

>now, " said Art Kidrow, a nurse manager at -Jewish. " We've had

>some 650-pounders up here. "

>

>Some wings of -Jewish are replacing 36-inch-wide doorways with

>those that are 48 or 52 inches wide. The bathrooms are being fitted

>with floor-mounted commodes that can't be pulled

>out of the wall, and rooms reconfigured so

>patients can essentially get out of bed and step into the bathroom.

>

>Gowns are bigger. Wheelchairs are wider. Even hospital-issued

>slippers come in extra-large sizes because the standard-issued

>footies were cutting off circulation for some patients.

>

>Issues extend beyond the patient's room. Operating tables have been

>widened because the girth of some patients was lapping over the

>table, in some cases all the way to the floor, Becker said. CT scan

>machines weren't wide enough. Syringes with the longest available

>needles — 4 1/2 inches — couldn't penetrate the fat.

>

>Along with doctors and nurses, the hospital's 30-member bariatric

>care team includes former patients like Henk and people from the

>hospital's engineering and housekeeping units.

>

>Henk, 41, represents both patients and those who try to help the

>obese — she is program manager for Washington University's weight

>management program.

>

>She's been heavy for as long as she can remember — she was in Weight

>Watchers by age 5. " Everybody in my family is at least 100 pounds

>overweight, " she said.

>

>Gastric bypass surgery seven years ago helped her shed some weight,

>but she's dropped to 315 pounds mostly through better eating and

>exercise.

>

>Still, she knows what larger people go through at the hospital.

>

> " I believe in dignity for whomever you are, " Henk said. " It can be

>scary, too. If people are trying to lift you up and somebody doesn't

>have the strength, it's very scary. "

>

>Based on recommendations from the team,

>-Jewish has developed a protocol for lifting heavy patients.

>

>The hospital is also working with suppliers. Manufacturers now offer

>more than 1,000 items specifically for obese patients, said Sandy

>Wise, of Novation LLC, a Texas-based company that provides

>contracting services between hospitals and manufacturers.

>

> " It's been a trend probably for the last four or five years, " Wise

>said. " Hospitals are continuing to see an

>increase in obese patients, and it affects every

>department. You have to think of the patient

>from head to toe, everything they do in the

>hospital until they walk out the door or they die. "

>

>In fact, -Jewish is striving to make even the end more

>dignified. Becker said the law requires a leak-proof body bag. Some

>patients were so large they wouldn't fit in them. The hospital is

>working with a vendor to develop a wider bag.

Eleanor Oster

eleanor@... (personal address)

www.smallboxes.com/gastricbypass.htm

San , CA

Open RNY (100 cm bypassed) 07/15/2003

P. Fisher, M.D., Kaiser Richmond (CA)

~5'9 " tall

05/09/2003 319 Orientation

07/15/2003 ~290 Surgery

Current 157±2 Goal until plastics?

[Guest guest]

The part about the chairs has always been one of my biggest pet peeves. I can not believe that any organization would invite obese people to any meeting/function/etc., and not supply adequate seating. Whoever plans these things should think about who they're having and get some chairs without arms in there. Just don't get me started... lol

Ron

Re: News article about obese patients and hospitals

Hey Francisco, I was just thinking you were being too quiet! So tell us the latest on As Francisco's World Turns (at least as much as you're comfortable sharing)! Inquiring (nosy?) minds want to know!I just saw a news item about how the ambulance service in Las Vegas has just put into service a special ambulance which is set up for morbidly obese patients.I also remember how irked one gal was, legitimately I might add, when she went to the Richmond orientation, and there weren't any chairs she could fit in!At 04:40 03/31/2006, you wrote:>Hello everyone:>>I've been out of the loop lately. Work is crazy, and well, so is>dating. Too many men!>>Anyway, here's an article from yahoo about hospitals and obese>patients. I think it's interesting. Hope you do too...>>ST. LOUIS - Going to the hospital is rarely fun. If you weigh over>300 pounds like Beth Henk, it can be embarrassing.>>"I've flipped an exam table — I sat on the end of it and it just>flipped up," said Henk, whose weight peaked at 745. When her son was>born three years ago, "I had to sit in the hospital bed the whole>time — the hospital's rocker wouldn't fit my butt.">>Today Henk helps -Jewish Hospital in St. >Louis find better ways to deal with the growing >number of very obese patients, an issue for many >U.S. hospitals. -Jewish is replacing beds >and wheelchairs with bigger models, widening >doorways, buying larger CT scan machines, even replacing slippers and gowns.>>Last year, patient care director Colleen Becker decided to check the>numbers. She looked at a daily hospital census — about one-third of>the 900 patients weighed 350 pounds or more.>>Startled, Becker checked another date, then >another. The numbers were onsistent. On some >days, half the patients were obese. Some weighed 500 pounds or more.>>"We ran the data again to make sure we weren't >hallucinating," Becker said. "We weren't. So we >had to somehow figure out the appropriate >supplies, equipment, training and care for the patients we're dealing with.">>The answer was a "bariatric care team," which Henk serves on, to>address the challenges posed by obese patients. Those challenges are>many.>>Hospitals around the nation are working with equipment suppliers to>accommodate larger patients, said Lietz, a spokeswoman for>the American Hospital Association. And it's not just for the patients.>>ATF Healthcare, a union representing 70,000 nurses and other workers>at hospitals in 18 states, last week called for new laws forcing>hospitals to buy equipment such as portable hoists to prevent worker>injuries.>>A union-commissioned survey of more than 900 nurses and X-ray>technicians found the majority have chronic pain or have suffered>injuries from lifting and moving patients.>>At -Jewish, lift machines help some patients get in and out of>bed. Chairs have been made stronger and wider. >Lights have been added at floor level because >the bodies of extremely obese people can cast a >shadow that makes it hard to see the floor.>>The hospital is replacing many of its beds — built to handle people>weighing up to 350 pounds — with beds for 500-pound patients.>>"Three-hundred-fifty pounds is nowhere near what we need for beds>now," said Art Kidrow, a nurse manager at -Jewish. "We've had>some 650-pounders up here.">>Some wings of -Jewish are replacing 36-inch-wide doorways with>those that are 48 or 52 inches wide. The bathrooms are being fitted>with floor-mounted commodes that can't be pulled >out of the wall, and rooms reconfigured so >patients can essentially get out of bed and step into the bathroom.>>Gowns are bigger. Wheelchairs are wider. Even hospital-issued>slippers come in extra-large sizes because the standard-issued>footies were cutting off circulation for some patients.>>Issues extend beyond the patient's room. Operating tables have been>widened because the girth of some patients was lapping over the>table, in some cases all the way to the floor, Becker said. CT scan>machines weren't wide enough. Syringes with the longest available>needles — 4 1/2 inches — couldn't penetrate the fat.>>Along with doctors and nurses, the hospital's 30-member bariatric>care team includes former patients like Henk and people from the>hospital's engineering and housekeeping units.>>Henk, 41, represents both patients and those who try to help the>obese — she is program manager for Washington University's weight>management program.>>She's been heavy for as long as she can remember — she was in Weight>Watchers by age 5. "Everybody in my family is at least 100 pounds>overweight," she said.>>Gastric bypass surgery seven years ago helped her shed some weight,>but she's dropped to 315 pounds mostly through better eating and>exercise.>>Still, she knows what larger people go through at the hospital.>>"I believe in dignity for whomever you are," Henk said. "It can be>scary, too. If people are trying to lift you up and somebody doesn't>have the strength, it's very scary.">>Based on recommendations from the team, >-Jewish has developed a protocol for lifting heavy patients.>>The hospital is also working with suppliers. Manufacturers now offer>more than 1,000 items specifically for obese patients, said Sandy>Wise, of Novation LLC, a Texas-based company that provides>contracting services between hospitals and manufacturers.>>"It's been a trend probably for the last four or five years," Wise>said. "Hospitals are continuing to see an >increase in obese patients, and it affects every >department. You have to think of the patient >from head to toe, everything they do in the >hospital until they walk out the door or they die.">>In fact, -Jewish is striving to make even the end more>dignified. Becker said the law requires a leak-proof body bag. Some>patients were so large they wouldn't fit in them. The hospital is>working with a vendor to develop a wider bag.Eleanor Ostereleanor@... (personal address)www.smallboxes.com/gastricbypass.htmSan , CAOpen RNY (100 cm bypassed) 07/15/2003 P. Fisher, M.D., Kaiser Richmond (CA)~5'9" tall05/09/2003 319 Orientation07/15/2003 ~290 SurgeryCurrent 157±2 Goal until plastics?

[Guest guest]

Ron- This reminds me of a milestone....................I think last June or so a bunch of us from this email group tried to meet at the Richmond Support Group and I got a ride with a woman named , She no longer posts in here,,,,,,,,,,,,anyways she and our Pam ( sweetnlow) sorry i am blanking on her last name, maybe its marshall...........anyways she and were sort of like surgery twins and Pam was feeling low at the time she wasnt in contact with as much, by email surprised me and said she was going to go and i was on her way and she would give me a ride but she wanted it to be a secret for Pam, Our Robynn had just had surgery this very same day,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, when and I got to the room where the meeting was there were several chairs, the woman that hosted the meeting said not to sit in certain chairs, which were semi loveseat type sized and she said she reserved those for certain visitors that had

special needs or something to that effect. and I went to the back of the room and found seating and it was fun to meet people from the group, i think at that time i met Gordy, , Timmy, Kerrie and , I later met Robynn post op................and then Pam came a little later...........she was so overjoyed to see her surgery twin, i think she might of cried ( she is so cute and sweet Pam) anyways the milestone being, that right next to the seat was sitting in was an unused larger style seat and Pam sat there and patted the otherside and wanted to come sit with her...................Pre op, this probabally would of not worked and neither ot the two I doubt would of even tried that.................it was a moment of two people in a milestone in their weightloss journey,,,,,,,,,,, I too use to worry about some chairs i was given to sit in..........sometimes if i had the slightest idea that it might be questionable for me i would pass on a chair

or say my back was bothering me and sitting aggrivated it................... Even in my own office where i work, our waiting room chairs , even though they accomidated me in my heavist time,some of our patients our larger and everynow and again, i have only one chair i can put out in the waiting room to help them out that has no arms,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Its not right....................BBQ Man wrote: The part about the chairs has always been one of my biggest pet peeves. I can not believe that any organization would invite obese people to any meeting/function/etc., and not supply adequate seating. Whoever plans these things should think about who they're having and get some chairs without arms

in there. Just don't get me started... lol Ron Re: News article about obese patients and hospitals Hey Francisco, I was just thinking you were being too quiet! So tell us the latest on As Francisco's World Turns (at

least as much as you're comfortable sharing)! Inquiring (nosy?) minds want to know!I just saw a news item about how the ambulance service in Las Vegas has just put into service a special ambulance which is set up for morbidly obese patients.I also remember how irked one gal was, legitimately I might add, when she went to the Richmond orientation, and there weren't any chairs she could fit in!At 04:40 03/31/2006, you wrote:>Hello everyone:>>I've been out of the loop lately. Work is crazy, and well, so is>dating. Too many men!>>Anyway, here's an article from yahoo about hospitals and obese>patients. I think it's interesting. Hope you do too...>>ST. LOUIS - Going to the hospital is rarely fun. If you weigh over>300 pounds like Beth Henk, it can be embarrassing.>>"I've flipped an exam table — I sat on the end of it and it

just>flipped up," said Henk, whose weight peaked at 745. When her son was>born three years ago, "I had to sit in the hospital bed the whole>time — the hospital's rocker wouldn't fit my butt.">>Today Henk helps -Jewish Hospital in St. >Louis find better ways to deal with the growing >number of very obese patients, an issue for many >U.S. hospitals. -Jewish is replacing beds >and wheelchairs with bigger models, widening >doorways, buying larger CT scan machines, even replacing slippers and gowns.>>Last year, patient care director Colleen Becker decided to check the>numbers. She looked at a daily hospital census — about one-third of>the 900 patients weighed 350 pounds or more.>>Startled, Becker checked another date, then >another. The numbers were onsistent. On some >days, half the patients were obese. Some weighed 500 pounds or

more.>>"We ran the data again to make sure we weren't >hallucinating," Becker said. "We weren't. So we >had to somehow figure out the appropriate >supplies, equipment, training and care for the patients we're dealing with.">>The answer was a "bariatric care team," which Henk serves on, to>address the challenges posed by obese patients. Those challenges are>many.>>Hospitals around the nation are working with equipment suppliers to>accommodate larger patients, said Lietz, a spokeswoman for>the American Hospital Association. And it's not just for the patients.>>ATF Healthcare, a union representing 70,000 nurses and other workers>at hospitals in 18 states, last week called for new laws forcing>hospitals to buy equipment such as portable hoists to prevent worker>injuries.>>A union-commissioned survey of more than 900 nurses and

X-ray>technicians found the majority have chronic pain or have suffered>injuries from lifting and moving patients.>>At -Jewish, lift machines help some patients get in and out of>bed. Chairs have been made stronger and wider. >Lights have been added at floor level because >the bodies of extremely obese people can cast a >shadow that makes it hard to see the floor.>>The hospital is replacing many of its beds — built to handle people>weighing up to 350 pounds — with beds for 500-pound patients.>>"Three-hundred-fifty pounds is nowhere near what we need for beds>now," said Art Kidrow, a nurse manager at -Jewish. "We've had>some 650-pounders up here.">>Some wings of -Jewish are replacing 36-inch-wide doorways with>those that are 48 or 52 inches wide. The bathrooms are being fitted>with floor-mounted commodes that can't be pulled

>out of the wall, and rooms reconfigured so >patients can essentially get out of bed and step into the bathroom.>>Gowns are bigger. Wheelchairs are wider. Even hospital-issued>slippers come in extra-large sizes because the standard-issued>footies were cutting off circulation for some patients.>>Issues extend beyond the patient's room. Operating tables have been>widened because the girth of some patients was lapping over the>table, in some cases all the way to the floor, Becker said. CT scan>machines weren't wide enough. Syringes with the longest available>needles — 4 1/2 inches — couldn't penetrate the fat.>>Along with doctors and nurses, the hospital's 30-member bariatric>care team includes former patients like Henk and people from the>hospital's engineering and housekeeping units.>>Henk, 41, represents both patients and those who try to help

the>obese — she is program manager for Washington University's weight>management program.>>She's been heavy for as long as she can remember — she was in Weight>Watchers by age 5. "Everybody in my family is at least 100 pounds>overweight," she said.>>Gastric bypass surgery seven years ago helped her shed some weight,>but she's dropped to 315 pounds mostly through better eating and>exercise.>>Still, she knows what larger people go through at the hospital.>>"I believe in dignity for whomever you are," Henk said. "It can be>scary, too. If people are trying to lift you up and somebody doesn't>have the strength, it's very scary.">>Based on recommendations from the team, >-Jewish has developed a protocol for lifting heavy patients.>>The hospital is also working with suppliers. Manufacturers now offer>more than 1,000 items

specifically for obese patients, said Sandy>Wise, of Novation LLC, a Texas-based company that provides>contracting services between hospitals and manufacturers.>>"It's been a trend probably for the last four or five years," Wise>said. "Hospitals are continuing to see an >increase in obese patients, and it affects every >department. You have to think of the patient >from head to toe, everything they do in the >hospital until they walk out the door or they die.">>In fact, -Jewish is striving to make even the end more>dignified. Becker said the law requires a leak-proof body bag. Some>patients were so large they wouldn't fit in them. The hospital is>working with a vendor to develop a wider bag.Eleanor Ostereleanor@... (personal address)www.smallboxes.com/gastricbypass.htmSan , CAOpen RNY (100 cm bypassed) 07/15/2003 P. Fisher, M.D.,

Kaiser Richmond (CA)~5'9" tall05/09/2003 319 Orientation07/15/2003 ~290 SurgeryCurrent 157±2 Goal until plastics?

Colleen

[Guest guest]

Francisco - I know you have been busy getting ready for your run BUT

we all miss you!

PEGGY

>

> Hello everyone:

>

> I've been out of the loop lately. Work is crazy, and well, so is

> dating. Too many men!

>

> Anyway, here's an article from yahoo about hospitals and obese

> patients. I think it's interesting. Hope you do too...

>

> ST. LOUIS - Going to the hospital is rarely fun. If you weigh over

> 300 pounds like Beth Henk, it can be embarrassing.

>

> " I've flipped an exam table — I sat on the end of it and it just

> flipped up, " said Henk, whose weight peaked at 745. When her son

was

> born three years ago, " I had to sit in the hospital bed the whole

> time — the hospital's rocker wouldn't fit my butt. "

>

> Today Henk helps -Jewish Hospital in St. Louis find better

ways

> to deal with the growing number of very obese patients, an issue

for

> many U.S. hospitals. -Jewish is replacing beds and

wheelchairs

> with bigger models, widening doorways, buying larger CT scan

> machines, even replacing slippers and gowns.

>

> Last year, patient care director Colleen Becker decided to check

the

> numbers. She looked at a daily hospital census — about one-third

of

> the 900 patients weighed 350 pounds or more.

>

> Startled, Becker checked another date, then another. The numbers

were

> consistent. On some days, half the patients were obese. Some

weighed

> 500 pounds or more.

>

> " We ran the data again to make sure we weren't hallucinating, "

Becker

> said. " We weren't. So we had to somehow figure out the appropriate

> supplies, equipment, training and care for the patients we're

dealing

> with. "

>

> The answer was a " bariatric care team, " which Henk serves on, to

> address the challenges posed by obese patients. Those challenges

are

> many.

>

> Hospitals around the nation are working with equipment suppliers

to

> accommodate larger patients, said Lietz, a spokeswoman

for

> the American Hospital Association. And it's not just for the

patients.

>

> ATF Healthcare, a union representing 70,000 nurses and other

workers

> at hospitals in 18 states, last week called for new laws forcing

> hospitals to buy equipment such as portable hoists to prevent

worker

> injuries.

>

> A union-commissioned survey of more than 900 nurses and X-ray

> technicians found the majority have chronic pain or have suffered

> injuries from lifting and moving patients.

>

> At -Jewish, lift machines help some patients get in and out

of

> bed. Chairs have been made stronger and wider. Lights have been

added

> at floor level because the bodies of extremely obese people can

cast

> a shadow that makes it hard to see the floor.

>

> The hospital is replacing many of its beds — built to handle

people

> weighing up to 350 pounds — with beds for 500-pound patients.

>

> " Three-hundred-fifty pounds is nowhere near what we need for beds

> now, " said Art Kidrow, a nurse manager at -Jewish. " We've

had

> some 650-pounders up here. "

>

> Some wings of -Jewish are replacing 36-inch-wide doorways

with

> those that are 48 or 52 inches wide. The bathrooms are being

fitted

> with floor-mounted commodes that can't be pulled out of the wall,

and

> rooms reconfigured so patients can essentially get out of bed and

> step into the bathroom.

>

> Gowns are bigger. Wheelchairs are wider. Even hospital-issued

> slippers come in extra-large sizes because the standard-issued

> footies were cutting off circulation for some patients.

>

> Issues extend beyond the patient's room. Operating tables have

been

> widened because the girth of some patients was lapping over the

> table, in some cases all the way to the floor, Becker said. CT

scan

> machines weren't wide enough. Syringes with the longest available

> needles — 4 1/2 inches — couldn't penetrate the fat.

>

> Along with doctors and nurses, the hospital's 30-member bariatric

> care team includes former patients like Henk and people from the

> hospital's engineering and housekeeping units.

>

> Henk, 41, represents both patients and those who try to help the

> obese — she is program manager for Washington University's weight

> management program.

>

> She's been heavy for as long as she can remember — she was in

Weight

> Watchers by age 5. " Everybody in my family is at least 100 pounds

> overweight, " she said.

>

> Gastric bypass surgery seven years ago helped her shed some

weight,

> but she's dropped to 315 pounds mostly through better eating and

> exercise.

>

> Still, she knows what larger people go through at the hospital.

>

> " I believe in dignity for whomever you are, " Henk said. " It can be

> scary, too. If people are trying to lift you up and somebody

doesn't

> have the strength, it's very scary. "

>

> Based on recommendations from the team, -Jewish has

developed a

> protocol for lifting heavy patients.

>

> The hospital is also working with suppliers. Manufacturers now

offer

> more than 1,000 items specifically for obese patients, said Sandy

> Wise, of Novation LLC, a Texas-based company that provides

> contracting services between hospitals and manufacturers.

>

> " It's been a trend probably for the last four or five years, " Wise

> said. " Hospitals are continuing to see an increase in obese

patients,

> and it affects every department. You have to think of the patient

> from head to toe, everything they do in the hospital until they

walk

> out the door or they die. "

>

> In fact, -Jewish is striving to make even the end more

> dignified. Becker said the law requires a leak-proof body bag.

Some

> patients were so large they wouldn't fit in them. The hospital is

> working with a vendor to develop a wider bag.

>

[Guest guest]

Hey BBQ Man.... haven't heard from you in awhile. How are you doing?

Patti

> >Hello everyone:

> >

> >I've been out of the loop lately. Work is crazy, and well, so is

> >dating. Too many men!

> >

> >Anyway, here's an article from yahoo about hospitals and obese

> >patients. I think it's interesting. Hope you do too...

> >

> >ST. LOUIS - Going to the hospital is rarely fun. If you weigh over

> >300 pounds like Beth Henk, it can be embarrassing.

> >

> > " I've flipped an exam table - I sat on the end of it and it just

> >flipped up, " said Henk, whose weight peaked at 745. When her son

was

> >born three years ago, " I had to sit in the hospital bed the whole

> >time - the hospital's rocker wouldn't fit my butt. "

> >

> >Today Henk helps -Jewish Hospital in St.

> >Louis find better ways to deal with the growing

> >number of very obese patients, an issue for many

> >U.S. hospitals. -Jewish is replacing beds

> >and wheelchairs with bigger models, widening

> >doorways, buying larger CT scan machines, even replacing slippers

and gowns.

> >

> >Last year, patient care director Colleen Becker decided to check

the

> >numbers. She looked at a daily hospital census - about one-third

of

> >the 900 patients weighed 350 pounds or more.

> >

> >Startled, Becker checked another date, then

> >another. The numbers were onsistent. On some

> >days, half the patients were obese. Some weighed 500 pounds or

more.

> >

> > " We ran the data again to make sure we weren't

> >hallucinating, " Becker said. " We weren't. So we

> >had to somehow figure out the appropriate

> >supplies, equipment, training and care for the patients we're

dealing with. "

> >

> >The answer was a " bariatric care team, " which Henk serves on, to

> >address the challenges posed by obese patients. Those challenges

are

> >many.

> >

> >Hospitals around the nation are working with equipment suppliers

to

> >accommodate larger patients, said Lietz, a spokeswoman

for

> >the American Hospital Association. And it's not just for the

patients.

> >

> >ATF Healthcare, a union representing 70,000 nurses and other

workers

> >at hospitals in 18 states, last week called for new laws forcing

> >hospitals to buy equipment such as portable hoists to prevent

worker

> >injuries.

> >

> >A union-commissioned survey of more than 900 nurses and X-ray

> >technicians found the majority have chronic pain or have suffered

> >injuries from lifting and moving patients.

> >

> >At -Jewish, lift machines help some patients get in and out

of

> >bed. Chairs have been made stronger and wider.

> >Lights have been added at floor level because

> >the bodies of extremely obese people can cast a

> >shadow that makes it hard to see the floor.

> >

> >The hospital is replacing many of its beds - built to handle

people

> >weighing up to 350 pounds - with beds for 500-pound patients.

> >

> > " Three-hundred-fifty pounds is nowhere near what we need for beds

> >now, " said Art Kidrow, a nurse manager at -Jewish. " We've

had

> >some 650-pounders up here. "

> >

> >Some wings of -Jewish are replacing 36-inch-wide doorways

with

> >those that are 48 or 52 inches wide. The bathrooms are being

fitted

> >with floor-mounted commodes that can't be pulled

> >out of the wall, and rooms reconfigured so

> >patients can essentially get out of bed and step into the

bathroom.

> >

> >Gowns are bigger. Wheelchairs are wider. Even hospital-issued

> >slippers come in extra-large sizes because the standard-issued

> >footies were cutting off circulation for some patients.

> >

> >Issues extend beyond the patient's room. Operating tables have

been

> >widened because the girth of some patients was lapping over the

> >table, in some cases all the way to the floor, Becker said. CT

scan

> >machines weren't wide enough. Syringes with the longest available

> >needles - 4 1/2 inches - couldn't penetrate the fat.

> >

> >Along with doctors and nurses, the hospital's 30-member bariatric

> >care team includes former patients like Henk and people from the

> >hospital's engineering and housekeeping units.

> >

> >Henk, 41, represents both patients and those who try to help the

> >obese - she is program manager for Washington University's weight

> >management program.

> >

> >She's been heavy for as long as she can remember - she was in

Weight

> >Watchers by age 5. " Everybody in my family is at least 100 pounds

> >overweight, " she said.

> >

> >Gastric bypass surgery seven years ago helped her shed some

weight,

> >but she's dropped to 315 pounds mostly through better eating and

> >exercise.

> >

> >Still, she knows what larger people go through at the hospital.

> >

> > " I believe in dignity for whomever you are, " Henk said. " It can be

> >scary, too. If people are trying to lift you up and somebody

doesn't

> >have the strength, it's very scary. "

> >

> >Based on recommendations from the team,

> >-Jewish has developed a protocol for lifting heavy patients.

> >

> >The hospital is also working with suppliers. Manufacturers now

offer

> >more than 1,000 items specifically for obese patients, said Sandy

> >Wise, of Novation LLC, a Texas-based company that provides

> >contracting services between hospitals and manufacturers.

> >

> > " It's been a trend probably for the last four or five years, " Wise

> >said. " Hospitals are continuing to see an

> >increase in obese patients, and it affects every

> >department. You have to think of the patient

> >from head to toe, everything they do in the

> >hospital until they walk out the door or they die. "

> >

> >In fact, -Jewish is striving to make even the end more

> >dignified. Becker said the law requires a leak-proof body bag.

Some

> >patients were so large they wouldn't fit in them. The hospital is

> >working with a vendor to develop a wider bag.

>

> Eleanor Oster

> eleanor@... (personal address)

> www.smallboxes.com/gastricbypass.htm

> San , CA

> Open RNY (100 cm bypassed) 07/15/2003

> P. Fisher, M.D., Kaiser Richmond (CA)

> ~5'9 " tall

> 05/09/2003 319 Orientation

> 07/15/2003 ~290 Surgery

> Current 157±2 Goal until plastics?

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

What a great story, Colleen! I remember that night well,, but hadn't thought about the "double milestone"! Ron, you will be sharing a loveseat someday, too!! RobynnColleen Garner wrote: Ron- This reminds me of a milestone....................I think last June or so a bunch of us from this email group tried to meet at the Richmond Support Group and I got a ride with a woman named , She no longer posts in here,,,,,,,,,,,,anyways she and our Pam ( sweetnlow) sorry i am blanking on her last name, maybe its marshall...........anyways she and were sort of like surgery twins and Pam was feeling low at the time she wasnt in contact with as much, by email surprised me and said she was going to go and i was on her way and she

would give me a ride but she wanted it to be a secret for Pam, Our Robynn had just had surgery this very same day,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, when and I got to the room where the meeting was there were several chairs, the woman that hosted the meeting said not to sit in certain chairs, which were semi loveseat type sized and she said she reserved those for certain visitors that had special needs or something to that effect. and I went to the back of the room and found seating and it was fun to meet people from the group, i think at that time i met Gordy, , Timmy, Kerrie and , I later met Robynn post op................and then Pam came a little later...........she was so overjoyed to see her surgery twin, i think she might of cried ( she is so cute and sweet Pam) anyways the milestone being, that right next to the seat was sitting in was an unused larger style seat and Pam sat there and patted the otherside and wanted to come sit with

her...................Pre op, this probabally would of not worked and neither ot the two I doubt would of even tried that.................it was a moment of two people in a milestone in their weightloss journey,,,,,,,,,,, I too use to worry about some chairs i was given to sit in..........sometimes if i had the slightest idea that it might be questionable for me i would pass on a chair or say my back was bothering me and sitting aggrivated it................... Even in my own office where i work, our waiting room chairs , even though they accomidated me in my heavist time,some of our patients our larger and everynow and again, i have only one chair i can put out in the waiting room to help them out that has no arms,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Its not right....................BBQ Man wrote: The part about the chairs has always been one of my biggest pet peeves. I can not believe that any organization would invite obese people to any meeting/function/etc., and not supply adequate seating. Whoever plans these things should think about who they're having and get some chairs without arms in there. Just don't get me started... lol Ron Re: News article about obese patients and hospitals Hey Francisco, I was just thinking you were being too quiet! So tell us the latest on As Francisco's World Turns (at least as much as you're comfortable sharing)! Inquiring (nosy?) minds want to know!I just saw a news item about how the ambulance service in Las Vegas has just put into service a special ambulance which is set up for morbidly obese patients.I also remember how irked one gal was, legitimately I might add, when she went to the Richmond orientation, and there weren't any chairs she could fit in!At 04:40 03/31/2006, you wrote:>Hello everyone:>>I've been out of the loop

lately. Work is crazy, and well, so is>dating. Too many men!>>Anyway, here's an article from yahoo about hospitals and obese>patients. I think it's interesting. Hope you do too...>>ST. LOUIS - Going to the hospital is rarely fun. If you weigh over>300 pounds like Beth Henk, it can be embarrassing.>>"I've flipped an exam table — I sat on the end of it and it just>flipped up," said Henk, whose weight peaked at 745. When her son was>born three years ago, "I had to sit in the hospital bed the whole>time — the hospital's rocker wouldn't fit my butt.">>Today Henk helps -Jewish Hospital in St. >Louis find better ways to deal with the growing >number of very obese patients, an issue for many >U.S. hospitals. -Jewish is replacing beds >and wheelchairs with bigger models, widening >doorways, buying larger CT scan machines,

even replacing slippers and gowns.>>Last year, patient care director Colleen Becker decided to check the>numbers. She looked at a daily hospital census — about one-third of>the 900 patients weighed 350 pounds or more.>>Startled, Becker checked another date, then >another. The numbers were onsistent. On some >days, half the patients were obese. Some weighed 500 pounds or more.>>"We ran the data again to make sure we weren't >hallucinating," Becker said. "We weren't. So we >had to somehow figure out the appropriate >supplies, equipment, training and care for the patients we're dealing with.">>The answer was a "bariatric care team," which Henk serves on, to>address the challenges posed by obese patients. Those challenges are>many.>>Hospitals around the nation are working with equipment suppliers to>accommodate larger patients, said Lietz,

a spokeswoman for>the American Hospital Association. And it's not just for the patients.>>ATF Healthcare, a union representing 70,000 nurses and other workers>at hospitals in 18 states, last week called for new laws forcing>hospitals to buy equipment such as portable hoists to prevent worker>injuries.>>A union-commissioned survey of more than 900 nurses and X-ray>technicians found the majority have chronic pain or have suffered>injuries from lifting and moving patients.>>At -Jewish, lift machines help some patients get in and out of>bed. Chairs have been made stronger and wider. >Lights have been added at floor level because >the bodies of extremely obese people can cast a >shadow that makes it hard to see the floor.>>The hospital is replacing many of its beds — built to handle people>weighing up to 350 pounds — with beds for 500-pound

patients.>>"Three-hundred-fifty pounds is nowhere near what we need for beds>now," said Art Kidrow, a nurse manager at -Jewish. "We've had>some 650-pounders up here.">>Some wings of -Jewish are replacing 36-inch-wide doorways with>those that are 48 or 52 inches wide. The bathrooms are being fitted>with floor-mounted commodes that can't be pulled >out of the wall, and rooms reconfigured so >patients can essentially get out of bed and step into the bathroom.>>Gowns are bigger. Wheelchairs are wider. Even hospital-issued>slippers come in extra-large sizes because the standard-issued>footies were cutting off circulation for some patients.>>Issues extend beyond the patient's room. Operating tables have been>widened because the girth of some patients was lapping over the>table, in some cases all the way to the floor, Becker said. CT scan>machines

weren't wide enough. Syringes with the longest available>needles — 4 1/2 inches — couldn't penetrate the fat.>>Along with doctors and nurses, the hospital's 30-member bariatric>care team includes former patients like Henk and people from the>hospital's engineering and housekeeping units.>>Henk, 41, represents both patients and those who try to help the>obese — she is program manager for Washington University's weight>management program.>>She's been heavy for as long as she can remember — she was in Weight>Watchers by age 5. "Everybody in my family is at least 100 pounds>overweight," she said.>>Gastric bypass surgery seven years ago helped her shed some weight,>but she's dropped to 315 pounds mostly through better eating and>exercise.>>Still, she knows what larger people go through at the hospital.>>"I believe in dignity for whomever you

are," Henk said. "It can be>scary, too. If people are trying to lift you up and somebody doesn't>have the strength, it's very scary.">>Based on recommendations from the team, >-Jewish has developed a protocol for lifting heavy patients.>>The hospital is also working with suppliers. Manufacturers now offer>more than 1,000 items specifically for obese patients, said Sandy>Wise, of Novation LLC, a Texas-based company that provides>contracting services between hospitals and manufacturers.>>"It's been a trend probably for the last four or five years," Wise>said. "Hospitals are continuing to see an >increase in obese patients, and it affects every >department. You have to think of the patient >from head to toe, everything they do in the >hospital until they walk out the door or they die.">>In fact, -Jewish is striving to make even the end

more>dignified. Becker said the law requires a leak-proof body bag. Some>patients were so large they wouldn't fit in them. The hospital is>working with a vendor to develop a wider bag.Eleanor Ostereleanor@... (personal address)www.smallboxes.com/gastricbypass.htmSan , CAOpen RNY (100 cm bypassed) 07/15/2003 P. Fisher, M.D., Kaiser Richmond (CA)~5'9" tall05/09/2003 319 Orientation07/15/2003 ~290 SurgeryCurrent 157±2 Goal until plastics? Colleen

[Guest guest]

Oh my gosh Eleanor, I read that same article on

another group.

Colleen, you remember that. I got a littly teary eyed

reading this because it was a time when I felt I had

lost my best friend () and I was so very happy to

see her because I did not quite understand the

transformation she was going through. I took it way

too personal and I think it had a lot to do with my

hormones as well as being such a codependent.

and I grew so close in such a short period of time and

then she went her separate way. She had to explore

and enjoy so many things she had not been able to and

I did not understand it but now I do. I am please to

let you know that and I have reconnected yet once

again and have been emailing. She is doing great and

still crazy as ever and I miss her really I do. The

one thing that I have learned on this journey is that

people come into your life at the time that they do

for a reason. It could be to hold your hand during a

hard time or just to lend an ear as you are on your

journey. Then you have those that stick around

because they are truly suppose to be in your

life...part of your life. I think that is one of

those people that will be part of my life for some

time but not necessarily in my life. I hope that

makes since. She is part of my life because of what

we went through together and what we are going through

now together. She is not in my life because we lack

that physical bond (going places together, doing

things together and talking more than we do now-thats

a physical thing and that at this moment is something

we have not managed to get back on track) and right

now her life is being

transformed/reshaped/rediscovered, etc. but she is

part of my life and will continue to be.

Anyway, the chair thing. I to wish they could do

something so that people are accommodated. I truly

think that until they have to personally experience

these types of things the change will come slower than

we need it to. Be encouraged and know that life won't

always be like this. You won't always have to worry

about the chair, table, booth, stalls, rides, buses,

etc. You will see but until the change comes, we must

be vocal so that we won't go unheard. Be encouraged

and know that we are here with you to support you.

Pam Marsh

--- Robynn VanPatten wrote:

> What a great story, Colleen! I remember that night

> well,, but hadn't thought about the " double

> milestone " ! Ron, you will be sharing a loveseat

> someday, too!!

>

> Robynn

>

> Colleen Garner wrote:

> Ron-

>

> This reminds me of a

> milestone....................I think last June or so

> a bunch of us from this email group tried to meet at

> the Richmond Support Group and I got a ride with a

> woman named , She no longer posts in

> here,,,,,,,,,,,,anyways she and our Pam

> ( sweetnlow) sorry i am blanking on her last name,

> maybe its marshall...........anyways she and

> were sort of like surgery twins and Pam was feeling

> low at the time she wasnt in contact with as

> much, by email surprised me and said she was

> going to go and i was on her way and she would give

> me a ride but she wanted it to be a secret for Pam,

> Our Robynn had just had surgery this very same

> day,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, when and I got to the

> room where the meeting was there were several

> chairs, the woman that hosted the meeting said not

> to sit in certain chairs, which were semi loveseat

> type sized and she said she reserved those for

> certain visitors that had special needs or something

> to that effect. and I went to the back of the

> room and found seating and it was fun to meet people

> from the group, i think at that time i met Gordy,

> , Timmy, Kerrie and , I later met Robynn

> post op................and then Pam came a little

> later...........she was so overjoyed

> to see her surgery twin, i think she might of cried

> ( she is so cute and sweet Pam) anyways the

> milestone being, that right next to the seat

> was sitting in was an unused larger style seat and

> Pam sat there and patted the otherside and wanted

> to come sit with her...................Pre op,

> this probabally would of not worked and neither ot

> the two I doubt would of even tried

> that.................it was a moment of two people

> in a milestone in their weightloss

> journey,,,,,,,,,,, I too use to worry about some

> chairs i was given to sit in..........sometimes if i

> had the slightest idea that it might be questionable

> for me i would pass on a chair or say my back was

> bothering me and sitting aggrivated

> it................... Even in my own office where i

> work, our waiting room chairs , even though they

> accomidated me in my heavist time,some of our

> patients our larger and everynow and again, i have

> only one chair i can put out in the waiting room to

> help them out that has no

> arms,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Its not

> right....................

>

> BBQ Man wrote:

> The part about the chairs has always been

> one of my biggest pet peeves. I can not believe

> that any organization would invite obese people to

> any meeting/function/etc., and not supply adequate

> seating. Whoever plans these things should think

> about who they're having and get some chairs without

> arms in there. Just don't get me started... lol

>

> Ron

>

> Re:

> News

> article about obese patients and hospitals

>

>

>

> Hey Francisco, I was just thinking you were being

> too quiet! So tell us the latest on As

> Francisco's World Turns (at least as much as

> you're comfortable sharing)! Inquiring (nosy?) minds

> want to know!

>

> I just saw a news item about how the ambulance

> service in Las Vegas has just put into service a

> special ambulance which is set up for morbidly obese

> patients.

>

> I also remember how irked one gal was,

> legitimately I might add, when she went to the

> Richmond orientation, and there weren't any chairs

> she could fit in!

>

> At 04:40 03/31/2006, you wrote:

> >Hello everyone:

> >

> >I've been out of the loop lately. Work is crazy,

> and well, so is

> >dating. Too many men!

> >

> >Anyway, here's an article from yahoo about

> hospitals and obese

> >patients. I think it's interesting. Hope you do

> too...

> >

> >ST. LOUIS - Going to the hospital is rarely fun. If

> you weigh over

> >300 pounds like Beth Henk, it can be embarrassing.

> >

> > " I've flipped an exam table — I sat on the end of

> it and it just

> >flipped up, " said Henk, whose weight peaked at 745.

> When her son was

> >born three years ago, " I had to sit in the hospital

> bed the whole

> >time — the hospital's rocker wouldn't fit my butt. "

> >

> >Today Henk helps -Jewish Hospital in St.

> >Louis find better ways to deal with the growing

> >number of very obese patients, an issue for many

> >U.S. hospitals. -Jewish is replacing beds

> >and wheelchairs with bigger models, widening

> >doorways, buying larger CT scan machines, even

> replacing slippers and gowns.

> >

> >Last year, patient care director Colleen Becker

> decided to check the

> >numbers. She looked at a daily hospital census —

> about one-third of

> >the 900 patients weighed 350 pounds or more.

> >

> >Startled, Becker checked another date, then

> >another. The numbers were onsistent. On some

> >days, half the patients were obese. Some weighed

> 500 pounds or more.

> >

> > " We ran the data again to make sure we weren't

> >hallucinating, " Becker said. " We weren't. So we

> >had to somehow figure out the appropriate

> >supplies, equipment, training and care for the

> patients we're dealing with. "

> >

> >The answer was a " bariatric care team, " which Henk

> serves on, to

> >address the challenges posed by obese patients.

> Those challenges are

> >many.

> >

> >Hospitals around the nation are working with

> equipment suppliers to

> >accommodate larger patients, said Lietz,

> a spokeswoman for

> >the American Hospital Association. And it's not

> just for the patients.

> >

> >ATF Healthcare, a union representing 70,000 nurses

> and other workers

> >at hospitals in 18 states, last week called for new

> laws forcing

> >hospitals to buy equipment such as portable hoists

> to prevent worker

> >injuries.

> >

> >A union-commissioned survey of more than 900 nurses

> and X-ray

> >technicians found the majority have chronic pain or

> have suffered

> >injuries from lifting and moving patients.

> >

> >At -Jewish, lift machines help some patients

> get in and out of

> >bed. Chairs have been made stronger and wider.

> >Lights have been added at floor level because

> >the bodies of extremely obese people can cast a

> >shadow that makes it hard to see the floor.

> >

> >The hospital is replacing many of its beds — built

> to handle people

> >weighing up to 350 pounds — with beds for 500-pound

> patients.

> >

> > " Three-hundred-fifty pounds is nowhere near what we

> need for beds

> >now, " said Art Kidrow, a nurse manager at

> -Jewish. " We've had

> >some 650-pounders up here. "

> >

> >Some wings of -Jewish are replacing

> 36-inch-wide doorways with

> >those that are 48 or 52 inches wide. The bathrooms

> are being fitted

> >with floor-mounted commodes that can't be pulled

> >out of the wall, and rooms reconfigured so

> >patients can essentially get out of bed and step

> into the bathroom.

>

=== message truncated ===

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I'm looking forward to it!

Re: News article about obese patients and hospitals

Hey Francisco, I was just thinking you were being too quiet! So tell us the latest on As Francisco's World Turns (at least as much as you're comfortable sharing)! Inquiring (nosy?) minds want to know!I just saw a news item about how the ambulance service in Las Vegas has just put into service a special ambulance which is set up for morbidly obese patients.I also remember how irked one gal was, legitimately I might add, when she went to the Richmond orientation, and there weren't any chairs she could fit in!At 04:40 03/31/2006, you wrote:>Hello everyone:>>I've been out of the loop lately. Work is crazy, and well, so is>dating. Too many men!>>Anyway, here's an article from yahoo about hospitals and obese>patients. I think it's interesting. Hope you do too...>>ST. LOUIS - Going to the hospital is rarely fun. If you weigh over>300 pounds like Beth Henk, it can be embarrassing.>>"I've flipped an exam table — I sat on the end of it and it just>flipped up," said Henk, whose weight peaked at 745. When her son was>born three years ago, "I had to sit in the hospital bed the whole>time — the hospital's rocker wouldn't fit my butt.">>Today Henk helps -Jewish Hospital in St. >Louis find better ways to deal with the growing >number of very obese patients, an issue for many >U.S. hospitals. -Jewish is replacing beds >and wheelchairs with bigger models, widening >doorways, buying larger CT scan machines, even replacing slippers and gowns.>>Last year, patient care director Colleen Becker decided to check the>numbers. She looked at a daily hospital census — about one-third of>the 900 patients weighed 350 pounds or more.>>Startled, Becker checked another date, then >another. The numbers were onsistent. On some >days, half the patients were obese. Some weighed 500 pounds or more.>>"We ran the data again to make sure we weren't >hallucinating," Becker said. "We weren't. So we >had to somehow figure out the appropriate >supplies, equipment, training and care for the patients we're dealing with.">>The answer was a "bariatric care team," which Henk serves on, to>address the challenges posed by obese patients. Those challenges are>many.>>Hospitals around the nation are working with equipment suppliers to>accommodate larger patients, said Lietz, a spokeswoman for>the American Hospital Association. And it's not just for the patients.>>ATF Healthcare, a union representing 70,000 nurses and other workers>at hospitals in 18 states, last week called for new laws forcing>hospitals to buy equipment such as portable hoists to prevent worker>injuries.>>A union-commissioned survey of more than 900 nurses and X-ray>technicians found the majority have chronic pain or have suffered>injuries from lifting and moving patients.>>At -Jewish, lift machines help some patients get in and out of>bed. Chairs have been made stronger and wider. >Lights have been added at floor level because >the bodies of extremely obese people can cast a >shadow that makes it hard to see the floor.>>The hospital is replacing many of its beds — built to handle people>weighing up to 350 pounds — with beds for 500-pound patients.>>"Three-hundred-fifty pounds is nowhere near what we need for beds>now," said Art Kidrow, a nurse manager at -Jewish. "We've had>some 650-pounders up here.">>Some wings of -Jewish are replacing 36-inch-wide doorways with>those that are 48 or 52 inches wide. The bathrooms are being fitted>with floor-mounted commodes that can't be pulled >out of the wall, and rooms reconfigured so >patients can essentially get out of bed and step into the bathroom.>>Gowns are bigger. Wheelchairs are wider. Even hospital-issued>slippers come in extra-large sizes because the standard-issued>footies were cutting off circulation for some patients.>>Issues extend beyond the patient's room. Operating tables have been>widened because the girth of some patients was lapping over the>table, in some cases all the way to the floor, Becker said. CT scan>machines weren't wide enough. Syringes with the longest available>needles — 4 1/2 inches — couldn't penetrate the fat.>>Along with doctors and nurses, the hospital's 30-member bariatric>care team includes former patients like Henk and people from the>hospital's engineering and housekeeping units.>>Henk, 41, represents both patients and those who try to help the>obese — she is program manager for Washington University's weight>management program.>>She's been heavy for as long as she can remember — she was in Weight>Watchers by age 5. "Everybody in my family is at least 100 pounds>overweight," she said.>>Gastric bypass surgery seven years ago helped her shed some weight,>but she's dropped to 315 pounds mostly through better eating and>exercise.>>Still, she knows what larger people go through at the hospital.>>"I believe in dignity for whomever you are," Henk said. "It can be>scary, too. If people are trying to lift you up and somebody doesn't>have the strength, it's very scary.">>Based on recommendations from the team, >-Jewish has developed a protocol for lifting heavy patients.>>The hospital is also working with suppliers. Manufacturers now offer>more than 1,000 items specifically for obese patients, said Sandy>Wise, of Novation LLC, a Texas-based company that provides>contracting services between hospitals and manufacturers.>>"It's been a trend probably for the last four or five years," Wise>said. "Hospitals are continuing to see an >increase in obese patients, and it affects every >department. You have to think of the patient >from head to toe, everything they do in the >hospital until they walk out the door or they die.">>In fact, -Jewish is striving to make even the end more>dignified. Becker said the law requires a leak-proof body bag. Some>patients were so large they wouldn't fit in them. The hospital is>working with a vendor to develop a wider bag.Eleanor Ostereleanor@... (personal address)www.smallboxes.com/gastricbypass.htmSan , CAOpen RNY (100 cm bypassed) 07/15/2003 P. Fisher, M.D., Kaiser Richmond (CA)~5'9" tall05/09/2003 319 Orientation07/15/2003 ~290 SurgeryCurrent 157±2 Goal until plastics?

Colleen