International Round Table Discussion: Are Bariatric Patients the New Normal?

Over the years, we have seen an almost worldwide increase in the levels of obesity across all age groups and most cultures. The negative impact this has had on the health of individuals has been dramatic, and, subsequently, the number of patients who are in our healthcare facilities is increasing each year. For many caregivers, this client group poses a particular challenge when assistance is required with in bed and out of bed mobility as exposure to the risk of musculoskeletal injury rises. But, as we see this rise, we need to ask ourselves if there is still the need to address bariatrics in health care as a separate specialty, or, as Susan Gallagher asks in her book, A Practical Guide to Bariatric Safe Patient Handling & Mobility, “Are bariatric patients the new normal?” To discuss this and other aspects of safe patient handling and mobility for patients of size, we have a diverse international group of experts from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Denmark.

McMahon A, Plambech L, Rush A

Keywords: safe patient handling, bariatric