Providing holistic care to bariatric patients

Bariatric patients often encounter challenging physical environments and sometimes encounter negative attitudes from health professionals when seeking care. Most facilities have the basic equipment needed to care for these patients. Using ceiling lifts or limb slings to facilitate repositioning or transfer has benefits for patients and staff. Environment, equipment, education, and resources are important to providing sensitive, respectful, safe, and high-quality patient care. This column describes strategies to promote holistic care for the bariatric population.