Michelle Dellorso knows the impact weight bias can have both personally and professionally. Dellorso, APRN (advanced practice registered nurse), Carle Urology, recognizes the value of making overcoming weight bias a priority.
“I think weight bias is a big issue,” Dellorso, who has been with Carle Health for 19 years, said. “I have been on both sides of this.”
The prevalence of weight bias in our culture, which extends into healthcare, is why overcoming weight bias is an area of focus as Carle Health continues to look for ways to improve patient experience and create an inclusive care environment.
One way the organization is addressing the challenge is by offering team members and clinicians education to reduce assumptions and learn more about supporting care with more compassion. The collection of resources includes Overcoming Weight Bias materials geared toward those providing clinical care with the idea of creating a more inclusive environment for everyone, Brenna Kelley, MPH, CPH, Carle Experience consultant, said. The organization offers a clinical education program about weight stigma and has created, for all team members, inclusive care resources that include identifying weight bias, effects of weight bias and communication best practices.
But it’s clear that Overcoming Weight Bias is not a one-time initiative.
“It should just be the way we care for people,” Kelley said. “We have a commitment to providing inclusive care, which means we need to create an inclusive environment for all body sizes.”
Nurse speaks to value of Overcoming Weight Bias
Professionally, Dellorso has experienced weight bias when discussing patient situations and hearing, “Well, that’s because they’re 400 pounds.” The condition that prompted them seeking healthcare may have nothing to do with their weight, she said.
“It’s rampant in society, and healthcare isn’t immune,” Dellorso said. “It’s important to know our biases so we overcome them.”
Personally, Dellorso experienced weight bias two years ago when she saw a provider about back pain. Dellorso was told that surgery wouldn’t help and that she needed to lose weight by exercising 60 minutes a day. When Dellorso said she couldn’t exercise for that long because of her back pain, she was told she, “needed to go to aqua-therapy with the little old ladies.”
“I got up, crying, and walked out,” Dellorso said. She went elsewhere for back surgery, which addressed her pain so she could be more physically active. She has since lost 60 pounds.
Weight bias harmful for everyone
When patients delay healthcare because they fear that they will be body-shamed, or their symptoms won’t be addressed or wheelchairs or chairs won’t be big enough, they don’t get healthcare until their symptoms are acute. Then, they can be more difficult to treat. This can result in more hardships for patients and families and contribute to higher healthcare costs.
These prejudgments impact everyone on the care continuum. It is bad for the patient because it delays care. It’s bad for the provider because they may not determine the actual cause of the symptoms. It’s bad for the healthcare organization because patients may seek care elsewhere. And it’s bad for the healthcare industry because the result is decreased trust, Dellorso said.
“I know how important the issue is, which leads me to want to create a better experience for my patients,” she said.
Carle Health culture addresses weight bias
At Carle Health, Dellorso is not alone.
“Weight bias can lead to changes in eating habits, unhealthy behaviors and binge eating disorder,” Kelley said. “Physiological reactions, including increased blood pressure, blood sugar and stress hormone levels are also associated with weight bias.” Depression and anxiety may result.
Patients who feel included and welcomed are more likely to engage in their treatment plan, resulting in better health outcomes.
“If weight truly is the cause, it’s important to acknowledge what the patient already has done and help them to look at other options,” Dellorso said. “Most patients want to be a part of the solution.”
The inclusive culture Carle Health is building will help.
Dellorso recently had a patient who needed a procedure done but was worried about the size of the operating table, the inpatient bed and the amount of anesthesia she would need. Dellorso reassured her and explained that Carle Health is being inclusive regarding weight. The patient had the procedure and she reported later that she had a great experience.
“She felt accommodated,” Dellorso said. “Overcoming Weight Bias will give the patients a better experience, which will build trust. When you have trust, you have buy-in. When you have buy-in, you have better outcomes.”
“Carle Health is known for world-class medicine,” Dellorso said. “Now, we also will be known for having a world-class heart.”
Addressing weight bias is just one of the ways the health system is taking a cross-functional approach to creating more resources and education while updating processes and policies to offer the most inclusive place to receive care for every patient.
“I think weight bias is a big issue,” Dellorso, who has been with Carle Health for 19 years, said. “I have been on both sides of this.”
The prevalence of weight bias in our culture, which extends into healthcare, is why overcoming weight bias is an area of focus as Carle Health continues to look for ways to improve patient experience and create an inclusive care environment.
One way the organization is addressing the challenge is by offering team members and clinicians education to reduce assumptions and learn more about supporting care with more compassion. The collection of resources includes Overcoming Weight Bias materials geared toward those providing clinical care with the idea of creating a more inclusive environment for everyone, Brenna Kelley, MPH, CPH, Carle Experience consultant, said. The organization offers a clinical education program about weight stigma and has created, for all team members, inclusive care resources that include identifying weight bias, effects of weight bias and communication best practices.
But it’s clear that Overcoming Weight Bias is not a one-time initiative.
“It should just be the way we care for people,” Kelley said. “We have a commitment to providing inclusive care, which means we need to create an inclusive environment for all body sizes.”
Nurse speaks to value of Overcoming Weight Bias
Professionally, Dellorso has experienced weight bias when discussing patient situations and hearing, “Well, that’s because they’re 400 pounds.” The condition that prompted them seeking healthcare may have nothing to do with their weight, she said.
“It’s rampant in society, and healthcare isn’t immune,” Dellorso said. “It’s important to know our biases so we overcome them.”
Personally, Dellorso experienced weight bias two years ago when she saw a provider about back pain. Dellorso was told that surgery wouldn’t help and that she needed to lose weight by exercising 60 minutes a day. When Dellorso said she couldn’t exercise for that long because of her back pain, she was told she, “needed to go to aqua-therapy with the little old ladies.”
“I got up, crying, and walked out,” Dellorso said. She went elsewhere for back surgery, which addressed her pain so she could be more physically active. She has since lost 60 pounds.
Weight bias harmful for everyone
When patients delay healthcare because they fear that they will be body-shamed, or their symptoms won’t be addressed or wheelchairs or chairs won’t be big enough, they don’t get healthcare until their symptoms are acute. Then, they can be more difficult to treat. This can result in more hardships for patients and families and contribute to higher healthcare costs.
These prejudgments impact everyone on the care continuum. It is bad for the patient because it delays care. It’s bad for the provider because they may not determine the actual cause of the symptoms. It’s bad for the healthcare organization because patients may seek care elsewhere. And it’s bad for the healthcare industry because the result is decreased trust, Dellorso said.
“I know how important the issue is, which leads me to want to create a better experience for my patients,” she said.
Carle Health culture addresses weight bias
At Carle Health, Dellorso is not alone.
“Weight bias can lead to changes in eating habits, unhealthy behaviors and binge eating disorder,” Kelley said. “Physiological reactions, including increased blood pressure, blood sugar and stress hormone levels are also associated with weight bias.” Depression and anxiety may result.
Patients who feel included and welcomed are more likely to engage in their treatment plan, resulting in better health outcomes.
“If weight truly is the cause, it’s important to acknowledge what the patient already has done and help them to look at other options,” Dellorso said. “Most patients want to be a part of the solution.”
The inclusive culture Carle Health is building will help.
Dellorso recently had a patient who needed a procedure done but was worried about the size of the operating table, the inpatient bed and the amount of anesthesia she would need. Dellorso reassured her and explained that Carle Health is being inclusive regarding weight. The patient had the procedure and she reported later that she had a great experience.
“She felt accommodated,” Dellorso said. “Overcoming Weight Bias will give the patients a better experience, which will build trust. When you have trust, you have buy-in. When you have buy-in, you have better outcomes.”
“Carle Health is known for world-class medicine,” Dellorso said. “Now, we also will be known for having a world-class heart.”
Addressing weight bias is just one of the ways the health system is taking a cross-functional approach to creating more resources and education while updating processes and policies to offer the most inclusive place to receive care for every patient.
Categories: Redefining Healthcare
Tags: culture, DEI, healthcare, inclusivity, weight