title: Restructuring the therapeutic environment to promote care and safety for the obese patient.
abstract: Fifty-four percent of American adults are overweight. Obesity is a chronic disease associated with a number of conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, certain types of cancers, and breathing problems. The direct and indirect costs related to obesity exceed $70 billion annually. Because of the many cost and quality issues related to obesity, national attention is turning toward the special needs of this population. Strategies to restructure therapeutic intervention with attention to risk management, economic implications, and patient satisfaction are important considerations when managing the obese patient.
authors.affiliation: Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena, California, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gallagher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004779:Environment Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control; D012308:Risk Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*