Children's Hospitals Focus on Pediatric Obesity
Children's Hospitals Focus on Pediatric Obesity
The rates of pediatric obesity have risen dramatically in the past 30 years, with rates of the severely obese rising even faster (Ogden, Carroll, Curtin, Lamb, & Flegal, 2010; Skelton, Cook, Auinger, Klein, & Barlow, 2009). As most health care professionals are aware, obese children have increased health-related problems, with a high likelihood of needing hospital services, thus putting a strain on the infrastructure and care providers within institutions (Pickens, Stanowski, Young, & Ross, 2007). Many nurses have recognized that the special needs of this severely obese pediatric population must be addressed. It has become apparent that the infrastructure and equipment lag behind the obesity epidemic in being prepared for these children and comorbidities, which are more often associated with adults (Gallagher, 2005).
To address this epidemic among children and help hospitals identify methods to improve care for obese children, the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) turned to a successful approach that pulled together multidisciplinary teams from units within children's hospitals to focus on a specific problem and identify paths to improvement.
In 2008, with support from The Mattel Children's Foundation, NACHRI initiated its first pediatric obesity FOCUS Group, "FOCUS on a Fitter Future." Fifteen children's hospitals participated and were given the task of addressing obesity treatment in a tertiary care setting. The group divided into subcommittees, one of which, "Healthy Hospital Environ ment" (HHE), emerged with three key areas of emphasis with implications for pediatric nurses. These are 1) identification and treatment of obesity should occur in all inpatient and outpatient settings in children's hospitals; 2) create a healthy hospital environment around wellness for patients, families, and employees; and 3) establish a safe hospital environment for the obese patient and family, ensuring both physical safety and emotional support.
Abstract and Introduction
Introduction
The rates of pediatric obesity have risen dramatically in the past 30 years, with rates of the severely obese rising even faster (Ogden, Carroll, Curtin, Lamb, & Flegal, 2010; Skelton, Cook, Auinger, Klein, & Barlow, 2009). As most health care professionals are aware, obese children have increased health-related problems, with a high likelihood of needing hospital services, thus putting a strain on the infrastructure and care providers within institutions (Pickens, Stanowski, Young, & Ross, 2007). Many nurses have recognized that the special needs of this severely obese pediatric population must be addressed. It has become apparent that the infrastructure and equipment lag behind the obesity epidemic in being prepared for these children and comorbidities, which are more often associated with adults (Gallagher, 2005).
To address this epidemic among children and help hospitals identify methods to improve care for obese children, the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) turned to a successful approach that pulled together multidisciplinary teams from units within children's hospitals to focus on a specific problem and identify paths to improvement.
In 2008, with support from The Mattel Children's Foundation, NACHRI initiated its first pediatric obesity FOCUS Group, "FOCUS on a Fitter Future." Fifteen children's hospitals participated and were given the task of addressing obesity treatment in a tertiary care setting. The group divided into subcommittees, one of which, "Healthy Hospital Environ ment" (HHE), emerged with three key areas of emphasis with implications for pediatric nurses. These are 1) identification and treatment of obesity should occur in all inpatient and outpatient settings in children's hospitals; 2) create a healthy hospital environment around wellness for patients, families, and employees; and 3) establish a safe hospital environment for the obese patient and family, ensuring both physical safety and emotional support.
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