Infrastructure Design: A Critical Element in the Care of the Patient With Obesity

The worldwide rate of obesity continues to rise, causing healthcare systems to morph to meet the demands posed by the concomitant increase in comorbidities associated with this condition. Increasing patient weight imposes its own constraints on the safety of patients and providers; therefore, a sound healthcare facility infrastructure is required to properly address the medical needs of patients with obesity. Currently, most healthcare systems-in their attitudes, equipment, and facility design-are ill equipped to meet the needs of this epidemic. In this article, we discuss the facilities and equipment design considerations in providing medical care to patients with obesity. Extending beyond the physical plant, we also touch on organizational elements that enable the healthcare provider to safely care for this challenging patient population. The rising prevalence and disease burden of excess adiposity highlight the obligation to recognize that the design needs common to all of our patients must include the particular needs of the patient with obesity.