| If you work in the medical field you are probably | | | | monitored by a medical professional. |
| familiar with the phrase Risk Management. Outside of | | | | 6.) They are not including long term lifestyle change |
| caring for the patients, risk management is perhaps | | | | as a priority. |
| the most important issue facing a medical practice | | | | The Smart for Life Weight Management Program |
| today. In recent years, American's of all ages have | | | | was designed to deal specifically with each of these |
| gotten heavier and health care professionals around | | | | items. Patients on the program see an average |
| the country seem to be struggling with obesity | | | | weight loss of twelve to fifteen pounds per month |
| related risks. Managing these risks properly may | | | | which helps them to stay motivated. To control |
| prove to be the key in keeping a successful practice | | | | hunger through the day, a patient will eat six specially |
| free of lawsuits. | | | | formulated organic cookies. Each cookie is full of |
| Obesity can affect a medical practice in a number of | | | | nutrients, amino acids and, fiber to naturally suppress |
| ways. In order to protect itself from potential | | | | hunger while supplying the body with the protein and |
| litigation, a medical practice needs to focus risk | | | | healthy fats it needs to maintain energy. Going with |
| management efforts on creating a safe environment | | | | an organic formula means that the cookies have a |
| for patients of all sizes. The first step is creating | | | | higher nutrient content, more protein and, no |
| awareness in the office. Talking to employees about | | | | pesticides or chemicals. The dinner meal consists of |
| the obesity epidemic is a good start. Statistics show | | | | six to eight ounces of healthy protein (some patients |
| that two out of three patients are obese and that | | | | will consume additional protein during the day |
| number is expected to rise in the future. Encourage | | | | depending on their gender and unique nutritional |
| everyone working at the office to lead by example | | | | needs) and two cups of vegetables. |
| and cut down on their own unhealthy habits. Making | | | | Another aspect that is crucial to the program's |
| sure the staff is trained in the correct methods for | | | | success is accountability. Each patient receives a |
| moving obese patients in the case of an emergency | | | | one-on-one consultation with a physician, nurse |
| is also important. | | | | practitioner or physicians assistant before starting. |
| Ask members of the staff to check for a maximum | | | | The consultation includes analysis of blood work BMI |
| weight rating on all of the exam tables and waiting | | | | and an EKG. Appropriate long term and short term |
| room furniture. Obese patients sometimes have | | | | goals are also discussed. Most patients will also be put |
| limited mobility and may walk with the assistance of | | | | on vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure proper |
| canes or walkers so thoroughly examine carpeting | | | | nutrition. |
| and other flooring in the office for signs of wear. | | | | Accountability does not end there. Each week the |
| Make sure that any loose wires or electrical cables | | | | patient comes in to have their weight, pulse and, |
| are safely covered so as not to become a tripping | | | | blood pressure monitored. Every fourth week, the |
| hazard. If wheelchairs are present in the office, make | | | | patient meets with one of the providers to discuss |
| sure that they are in proper working order and check | | | | their progress. This cycle continues until the patient |
| for a maximum weight rating. Taking these steps will | | | | gets close to a healthy BMI. At that point, their |
| dramatically reduce risks in the office. Helping obese | | | | caloric intake is increased and their exercise routine |
| patients lose weight quickly and safely should also be | | | | enhanced. Patients are weened off of the organic |
| a focus for risk management. The longer a patient is | | | | cookies and encouraged to continue eating six small |
| obese, the more at risk they are for developing | | | | healthy meals during the day. As part of weight |
| other illnesses. Obesity has already been linked to | | | | maintenance, patients still come in to have their vital |
| osteoarthritis, type II diabetes, sleep apnea, certain | | | | signs checked on a regular basis. |
| types of cancer and a variety of other ailments. | | | | The cookies are a convenient meal form because |
| Doctors everywhere know that do-it-yourself dieting | | | | they require little to no planning. A single package |
| and fad products do not work for the vast majority | | | | contains all six cookies needed for the day. Offered |
| of their obese patients. Impressive new methods | | | | in a growing variety of flavors these cookies provide |
| have been developed within the medical community | | | | a safe and healthy alternative to prescription based |
| to address the needs of millions of overweight | | | | appetite suppressants. With an average weight loss |
| American's. Physicians are communicating with their | | | | of twelve to fifteen pounds per month the Smart |
| obese patients about the scientific options for weight | | | | for Life Weight Management Program is comparable |
| loss. The sheer number of options can be | | | | to bariatric surgeries without the associated health |
| overwhelming and each has pros and cons associated | | | | risks and co-morbidity rates. |
| with it. They range from meal planning with a dietitian | | | | From a risk management point of view, it makes |
| and a customized exercise regimen with a personal | | | | sense for doctors, nurses and physicians assistants |
| trainer to prescription appetite suppressants or | | | | to refer their patients to programs like Smart for |
| bariatric surgery. One of the more appealing options | | | | Life. Practitioners also need to make sure that they |
| has come in the form of a comprehensive program | | | | are adequately documenting their recommendations in |
| offered by Smart for Life Weight Management | | | | these situations. There have been cases recently |
| Centers. | | | | where doctors have been found at fault for not |
| The Smart for Life Weight Management Program | | | | helping their obese patients to lose weight. In the |
| was developed and is administered by physicians. It | | | | case of Lawrence Smith's family vs Doctor Franklin |
| has proven successful for thousands of patients | | | | Price, a Cleveland internist, a jury leveled a $3.5 million |
| because it focuses on helping them to change their | | | | judgment against Dr. Price for not doing enough to |
| eating habits for life. Instead of focusing only on | | | | keep Lawrence Smith from developing coronary |
| weight loss, Smart for Life has added a weight | | | | heart disease which led to a fatal heart attack. |
| maintenance portion for patients who reach their goal | | | | Through documenting appropriately medical |
| weight. By addressing the downfalls of other weight | | | | professionals can avoid future accusations of "not |
| loss approaches, the Smart for Life team feels they | | | | doing enough to help" their obese patients. |
| have come up with a winning combination that will | | | | Programs like Smart for Life can further lower the |
| appeal to the masses. | | | | risk to primary care physicians, family practice |
| Smart for Life has discovered the six most common | | | | physicians and OB/GYN practices by helping patients |
| reasons a person will fail on a diet. Many weight loss | | | | to lose weight before they develop weight related |
| systems over the years have addressed one or | | | | illnesses. More importantly, a program like Smart for |
| more of these issues but Smart for Life is the first | | | | Life helps patients keep excess weight from coming |
| to have developed a system that addresses them all. | | | | back which lowers longer term risks. |
| A person might fail due to the following reasons: | | | | Medical professionals will have to adapt in order to |
| 1.) They are not losing weight fast enough to stay | | | | manage their obesity related risks. Legal precedence |
| motivated | | | | and a rising national obesity rate have highlighted the |
| 2.) They are too hungry to stay compliant with their | | | | need for changes in patient care and office protocol. |
| nutrition plan | | | | Even with the safety net of risk management |
| 3.) They are not monitored on a regular basis and | | | | practices around the country will face litigation in the |
| therefore do not feel accountable for their progress | | | | future. Referring patients to healthy, medically |
| 4.) The nutrition plan they have been given is not | | | | supervised weight loss programs may prove to be |
| convenient | | | | the difference between winning and losing the cases |
| 5.) Their individual risk factors are not continually | | | | centered on obesity. |