Bariatric Times - September 2008 - (Page 31)

Bariatric Times • September 2008 Consultant’s Corner 31 Showing interest in the patient and an appreciation for the patient’s time and concerns is essential. A sense of humor when used appropriately can go a long way with certain patients, but this skill is learned and does not necessarily have universal appeal. Patients who come to us with information—accurate or inaccurate—from other sources should be regarded with respect and appreciated for their willingness to learn more about their physical or emotional situation. If the information is inaccurate, the clinician best serves the patient by clarifying misinformation in a professional non-judgmental way.10 Being sensitive to your patient population’s needs, concerns, and desires also strengthens the physician-patient relationship. Sensitivity training for the entire staff is essential. Also, find ways to integrate office documents into learning tools that encourage accountability. For example, consider the opportunity to turn your history form into a liability risk reduction tool. Patient selfhistory forms often fail to capture the patient’s entire pertinent health history—information that surgeons rely on in making diagnoses or offering intervention. Patient contracts serve the same goal by prompting communication, clarifying rights and responsibilities, and encouraging mutually responsive decision making. Although each one of these is a wonderful first step in patient involvement and accountability, there are a number of ways to create a true culture of involvement. Examine your practice to find ways to incorporate patient accountability into your everyday activities. will need emotional or physical support to make those adaptations. Your question is valid, not only from a regulatory point of view, but also from the humanistic point of view, wherein we have a genuine desire to see the patient succeed. A number of practices have instituted creative strategies to keep patients engaged. Dr. Terry Simpson of Phoenix, Arizona has a very animated website with a number of learning tools that address patient needs across time. The website is exciting to look at and navigate— what is in it for the patient? It serves as a safe resource to remind the patient that information exists to help them on their journey. Dr. Christopher Joyce of Joliet, Illinois, offers a quarterly clothing exchange. What better and more practical way to keep patients interested? What is in it for his patients? New clothes and the tangible idea of moving from one clothing size to another. Other ideas might include a book club— one that focuses on WLS books, or inspirational publications, or regularly scheduled cooking classes and a recipe exchange. When developing your own creative strategy, keep in mind that your goal is to keep in touch not only with the patient who has successfully lost weight, but those who are struggling as well. REFERENCES 1. Nelson A. Patient Care and Ergonomics Resource Guide. Patient Safety Center of Inquiry. Tampa: Veterans’ Health Administration and Department of Defense; 2003. 2. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Department of Labor. Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Requiring Days Away from Work: 2005. November 2006. 3. Nelson A, Matz M, Chen F, et al. Development and evaluation of a multifaceted ergonomics program to prevent injuries associated with patient handling tasks. Intern J Nursing Studies. 2006;43(6):14–18. 4. Hignett S. Work-related back pain in nurses. J Adv Nurs. 1996:23(6):21–27. 5. Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Safe Patient Handling: A Report. March 2006. Accessed on August 1, 2008 at: http://www.aft.org/pubsreports/index.htm. 6. Fisher K, Ingram S. Dispelling the myths of lifts and transfers. Rehab and Comm Care Med. 2008;17(2)16–18. 7. Saxton JW. The Satisfied Patient: A Guide to Preventing Malpractice Claims by Providing Excellent Customer Service Skills. Marblehead, (MA): HCPro;2007. 8. Russell S, Daly J, Hughes E, Hoog CO. Nurses and difficult patients: negotiating non-compliance. J Adv Nurs. 2003;43(3):221-224. 9. Glasser W. Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom. New York: Harper Collins Publishers; 1998. 10. Alfaro-LeFevre R. Applying Nursing Process: A Tool for Critical Thinking. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Wilkins & Wilkins; 2005. We use reminder cards, phone calls, at-risk letters, and more to try to encourage patients to continue lifelong follow-up. What are some other ideas to encourage patients to stay involved with our program? Experts: Each one of the practices you describe is important. A sound WLS program should use every effort to encourage lifelong follow-up, but from a practical perspective, patients will only stay engaged if they believe there is something in it for them—that is human nature. Some patients will participate in lifelong follow-up because their nature is to follow rules; others may find this boring or simply disregard its value after reaching their target weight goal. As clinicians interested in the lifelong success of the WLS patient, we understand that as the patient continues in the journey, life changes occur and often the patient Column supported by an educational grant from http://www.bodymindinspiration.com http://www.bodymindinspiration.com http://www.aft.org/pubs-reports/index.htm http://www.aft.org/pubs-reports/index.htm http://www.novusrrg.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Bariatric Times - September 2008

Bariatric Times - September 2008 Emerging Technologies Case Report Sleeve Gastrectomy after a Jejunoileal Bypass Reversal Editorial Message Contents Editorial Board Walk from Obesity The Latest on Nutrition and Hair Loss in the Bariatric Patient Consultant’s Corner Journal Watch Calendar of Events Advertiser Index

Bariatric Times - September 2008

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