Just completed my bariatric sensitivity training

Kattarra

I work in health care (MRI Technologist to be exact) and my corporation has us take training on how to interact with people of different ages, cultures, religious beliefs and the last two years they've added bariatrics. It is becoming increasingly difficult for workers like myself to help the bariatric population, and I'm referring to patients that weigh 400+ pounds. We have added special rooms in our hospital with ceiling lifts and patient lifts to help us move people of size who bedridden and not able to move themselves.

Anyway, they gave us a of phrases commonly used that some may find offensive and the preferred replacement phrase and I thought I would share them here:

Instead of saying this:............... Say this:
Overweight, obese........ Person, patient of size
Willpower............. Commitment
Preach............Enable
Compliance......................... Exploration
Should, must..................... Consider
Limit, restrict ................Choose, experience
Prescribe....................... Negotiate
Approval ..................Self esteem
Expectations...........................Discoveries
Good/bad........................... What works for you
Diet........................... Eating style
Exercise regimen................ Activity style/physical activite
Ideal weight...................... Healthy weight


They also gave a a web address for a study that is supposed to determine what our views are about obese people. I though it was interesting but don't know how accurate it is. If anyone is interested.

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/takeatest.html

My question to you all is:

If you are are supposed to have an MRI exam and discover that you can't fit into the scanner because of your size, what is the nicest way for the technologist (me) to tell you that. This is after you have been on the table trying to squeeze into the MRI tunnel. This happens on a weekly basis and I would like to know, if it was you, what would you want to MRI tech to say to you.

jfaure23

I would want to hear what other options I have available. If I'm that large, I know I'm large, so there's no reason to beat around the bush. Also, I'm probably embarrassed that I've been put through the experience of trying to fit into the tube.

I've had an mri done this past year on my left hip. It is not a fun experience.

I would want to hear: "We're going to have to do this another way..." And then state what the other way is. Just don't tell me I'm fat, or imply that I am fat, I know that already. Let's focus on what can be done.

free2live72003

When I was obese (over 300lbs) there was a question on the initial patient information form that asked my weight and indicated that if I was over that weight that I could not be scanned.

This for me took most of the embarrassment out of the situation.

I would have been mortified if the staff had waited until I was on the table and tried to squeeze me into the machine first before telling me that I could not be scanned.

On a good note: I now weight 164lbs. and that is no longer an issue for me.

secretlobster

Is that like training you have to go through because you're prejudiced against Bariatrics?

flyingwrite

I would want to hear what other options I have available. If I'm that large, I know I'm large, so there's no reason to beat around the bush. Also, I'm probably embarrassed that I've been put through the experience of trying to fit into the tube.

I've had an mri done this past year on my left hip. It is not a fun experience.

I would want to hear: "We're going to have to do this another way..." And then state what the other way is. Just don't tell me I'm fat, or imply that I am fat, I know that already. Let's focus on what can be done.

^This

carolinenorthrup

Most health care professionals have to go through bariatric sensitivity training - it's mandatory at my hospital. I found that list interesting (I won't say "funny" even though I laughed because that would insensitive of me - lol)!

Kattarra

Is that like training you have to go through because you're prejudiced against Bariatrics?

No its required of everyone and I believe if it a JCAHO requirement for our hospital to be accredited

Kattarra

When I was obese (over 300lbs) there was a question on the initial patient information form that asked my weight and indicated that if I was over that weight that I could not be scanned.

This for me took most of the embarrassment out of the situation.

I would have been mortified if the staff had waited until I was on the table and tried to squeeze me into the machine first before telling me that I could not be scanned.

On a good note: I now weight 164lbs. and that is no longer an issue for me.

Our weight limit on our machine is 500 pounds but depeneding on what body part we are scanning and how the patients weight distributes when they lay down its impossible to tell beforehand if a patient will fit. I had 405 lb patient fit and a 270 lb patient not fit.