Infinity Rehab is proud to announce the latest addition to our clinical resources library: Bariatrics: Rehab Management of Obese Patients Treatment Protocol. Maxwell Perkins, OTR, Direct of Clinical Services and Jan Lee, PT, wrote this document over the course of 5 months; and their excellent work really shows. According to Perkins, “This Bariatrics protocol is one of the first documents in the country outlining how to care for and manage obese patients in a clinical setting.”
The nearly 40 page protocol reviews general information about Bariatrics and obesity and provides detailed information related to the evaluation and treatment of obese patients by Occupational and Physical Therapists. With an interdisciplinary team focus, the authors intend for this document to be used by therapists and rehab facilities as a resource for how to ensure patient and caregiver safety.
Here is an excerpt from the introduction of the Protocol:
The management of the obesity problem worldwide has been described by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2009 as being one of the world’s most significant health problems. They estimate that worldwide, there are more than a billion adults considered to be overweight, with 300 million of those meeting the criteria of being obese. If the current trends continue, the number of overweight persons will increase to 1.5 billion by 2015.
Healthcare facilities are seeing a dramatic increase in heavier patient admittance. As these patients are admitted, rehab is often looked to as the resource for mobilizing the person and improving functional independence.
“There are a different set of rules when it comes to the handling and care of obese patients,” says Perkins. “To provide the highest level of care to all of our patients we realized there was a need for documentation outlining proper procedures.” In addition to creating strategies and treatments, Perkins and Lee included a comprehensive section on resources and equipment needed to properly service this growing demographic.
