All over the world, the number of people suffering from obesity coupled with those predisposed to obesity has been rising drastically over the years. As such, bariatric facilities need to assess whether their resources are adequate to accommodate this growing number of obese patients as well as overweight employees (Barness et al. 2011). Bariatric facilities can minimize their risk of liability and workers’ compensation claims by fully addressing the needs of bariatric patients. Moreover, they can define themselves as leaders in the provision of quality bariatric care by providing superior bariatric patient experience (Barness et al. 2011). To achieve this, a typical bariatric facility needs to develop a comprehensive implementation plan.
Initiating
The initiating process group comprises of skills, activities, and processes required by the bariatric facility to commence the project of safely handling bariatric patients. At this stage, the bariatric facility must develop bariatric care policies that demarcate the extent of the organization’s bariatric care. Moreover, the facility should ensure that new or retrofitted facilities such buildings are available to accommodate an increasingly obese population. This equipment will maintain or enhance patient mobility and independent functioning while providing a safe environment for both patients and staff. (Barness et al. 2011). Also, a comprehensive budget should be put in place in cater for all possible expenses.
Planning
The planning process group stipulates the processes that will define the extent of the project and necessary strategic plans to be utilized. In a typical bariatric facility, this stage will involve the training and education of all staff regarding proper bariatric care. Besides, a detailed admission assessment protocol needs to be developed to evaluate the level of disability of an obese patient upon admission. Also, the bariatric facility needs to ensure the availability of necessary equipment. In the case of deficiency of proper equipment, the facility needs to delay admission of new patients until the issue has been sorted out.
Executing
The executing process group is composed of efficient management of teams to ensure achievement of set goals within the right timeframe. In a bariatric facility, this stage will involve the provision of high-quality care to bariatric patients. This care can be significantly enhanced through the use of proper bariatric communication systems by the staff to ensure the provision of equal, unbiased care to all patients. Also, regular briefings need to be conducted to evaluate patient care and safety of staff. The execution phase should also involve the mentoring and counseling of obese patients to facilitate better treatment outcomes.
Monitoring and Control
The monitoring and control group is a broad stage in the implementation process. At this juncture, the bariatric facility will address any budgetary considerations as they arise. Moreover, the facility will have to be ready to mitigate any unexpected circumstances that may negatively influence the ability of the facility to meet its short- and long-term goals. Managers at the facility need to consistently ensure that all operations run smoothly in spite of all impediments that may arise along the way. This will promote a continuous provision of effective bariatric care to all patients in a manner that is smooth and dependable.
Closing
The closing process group represents the culmination of all efforts put into a particular project. For a bariatric facility, this stage in critical in assessing the successes and failures of its project. In its pursuit to provide effective bariatric care, a bariatric facility needs to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses and act on the latter. This phase also involves the submission of relevant paperwork in due time to assess all operations involved in the provision of bariatric care. A good closure will elevate the reputation of the facility and bring about more patient referrals.
Figure 1: Gantt Chart Showing the Implementation Process in a Bariatric Facility
References
Barness, L., Opitz, J., & Gilbert-Barness, E. (2011). Obesity: genetic, molecular, and environmental aspects. Am J Med Genet A, 143A(24), 3016-3034.
Muir, M., & Archer-Heese, G. (2012). Essentials of a Bariatric Patient handling Program. The Online Journal of issues in Nursing, 14(1), 5-28.
