Helping Obesity Patients Feel Comfortable
Lisa Malak
Reporting
(CBS News) BALTIMORE, MD More And More Patients Are Fighting Obesity With Surgical Procedures.
Now.. More Hospitals Are Responding.. Making Changes With These Patients In Mind.
Hospital Changes/Baltimore, MD
It May Look Like A Typical Hospital Waiting Room.
But Gastric Bypass Patient Chris Goatee Says.. It's More Comfortable.
Chris Goatee/Patient
"There Are Wider Chairs Here, The Hallways Seem A Little Bit Wider. Then I Looked In The Rooms And The Doors Were Open A Little Bit Wider."
This New Bariatric Unit.. Is Specifically Designed For Patients Having Weight-Loss Surgery.
Mark Kligman, MD/Univ. Of Maryland Med. Ctr.
"We Have An Overweight Population And These Rooms, Rooms Similar To This, Are Going To Be Necessary To Provide Good Patient Care."
The Furniture Can Support Up To 800 Pounds.
Bathroom Fixtures Are Also Built Sturdier.
Mark Kligman, MD/Univ. Of Maryland Med. Ctr.
"If You Look At The Rest Room In Most Hospitals, The Toilet Is Actually Mounted To The Wall. In This Particular Unit It's Mounted To The Floor So That There's No Issue With An Overweight Patient Sitting On The Commode And Breaking It."
The Showers Are Roomier.. And Allow For Wider Wheelchairs.
The Larger Hallways Help Patients Feel More Comfortable To Get Up And Walk After Surgery.
Chris Goatee/Patient
"What I Found Was That As I Got Out Of Bed And As I Did Walk The Perimeter Of The Unit, I Felt So Much Better Walking That By The Next Morning, I Had Either Walked 5 Or 6 Times The Perimeter Of The Unit And It Just Felt So Great."
The Number Of Patients Having Weight-Loss Surgery Is Rising.. And Hospitals Are Helping Them Take The First Steps To A Healthier Life.
Families Are Encouraged To Spend Time With Their Loved Ones Who've Had Surgery.
Some Of The Chairs In The New Bariatric Unit Convert Into Couches.. So Visitors Can Get Some Shut-Eye.
Helping Obesity Patients Feel Comfortable