Discuss the following in detail:
Bariatric Unit Facility Planning
In the past several decades, many women and men in the U.S. have grown taller and are much heavier than previously. The obesity and overweight rate have grown into an epidemic, especially within the US health care system. Not only is this condition impairing the men and women physically, but it is affecting these groups mentally and emotionally. There are specific facility designs and procedures to safeguard the health and well-being of these patients. Two of the most important tools for caring for these patients is the facility design and clinical outcomes for bariatric patients. The growing size of Americans must be addressed through the health care system, and this begins with an appropriate facility space, the proper equipment, adequate training, ramps, and handrails throughout the facility. Also, the available wheelchairs, the clearance through the facility, wider door structures, larger shower stalls, heavy-duty handlebars, reliable heating and cooling units and mounted revisions in the bathroom. Safety and confidence are critical factors in the care of bariatric patients and the design of the facility unit.
Analyze essential environmental elements considered when designing a bariatric facility.
When all essential environmental elements are designed in a facility a safe, respectful healing environment can be created, and patient satisfaction and dignity can be achieved. However, it is important not to make the patient feel different than any other patient, even though they may have different needs. The appropriate care must be taken to the environmental set up for bariatric services. The environment as a whole will encompass everything from the entryway door to the exam room, operating room, recovery room and all the supplies needed such as scales and scanners as well as nutritional services. "When planning for bariatric patients, whether in long-term care or acute care settings, caregivers will need to have access to appropriate weight-rated and sized equipment" (Muir, Archer-Heese, 2009).
Differentiate the facility equipment and technology use within a bariatric facility.
When someone is in the process of having the bariatric bypass surgery, any and every equipment and technology is possibly used for the surgery to be successful. The computers are used to log in the information on the vitals, medication and then copied or faxed to the primary doctor of any changes or concerns. The proper lighting is crucial for the surgeon because he has to be able to view the process, so he does not cause any serious problems. Most bariatric surgeries performed by Lazar, a computer is used so that the surgeon can see on the screen where and what he needs to do during the surgery. All the utensils that used already sterilized and prep on a medical cart so the surgeon can reach and get whatever he/she needs to complete a successful surgery.
Analyze the use of community demographics and accessibility within facility planning for bariatric facilities.
In planning to build a bariatric facility unit within a hospital, the consideration of community demographics is important, to demonstrate a need for the facility, as well as accessibility from the point of admission to discharge. In this process, you have to consider who is seeking care, location, and accommodation. "Today, more than one-third of U.S. adults (36 percent) and approximately 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And in June, the American Medical Association (AMA) designated obesity as a disease" ("Healthcare Design", July 1, 2013, by Anne DiNardo, Senior Editor). As there is a growing health concern of obesity, which continues to increase in the U.S, there is an increase in the need for bariatric procedures. There is also a concern that facilities are not built to accommodate the variation in weight and size of obese patients. From the size of the entrance door, chairs, and beds, to the size of the hallway, patients have to feel comfortable, knowing the facility was designed with them in mind. Appropriate accessibility within the facility also helps to reduce the risk of injury to patients and staff.
Explain the importance of creating a facility based on the needs of a patient.
The patient is the most important stakeholder making healthcare design crucial. Also, to reduce the number of errors in healthcare, it is imperative to build a plan that will further decrease the number of errors to ensure the safety of the patients. Also, to eliminate the inefficiencies in the delivery of care and to increase the response time for patients. Another critical need of the patients design should include patient-centeredness that can give the patient access to health information, signs that are noticeable to locate various areas of a hospital, and adequate space for relatives (Reiling, Hughes, & Murphy, 2008). The facility should have the appropriate equipment, technology, and health providers to give the correct medical care that the patient requires, this enables the health professionals to deliver the highest quality of care to the patient and it will also, better the outcome of the patient health. Nevertheless, the design should also include comfort, this environment provide the look and feel of a home atmosphere with comfortable furnishings, lights, and accessories that can potentially uplift an individual spirit.
Conclusion