I have just finished my first week of intermediate clinical at Norwood Hospital. I did not know what to expect my first day but, my experiences this first month have been incredible. My preceptors are a group of amazing professionals that I have learned so much from already. The staff in the kitchen and on the floors have been very welcoming, answering any questions I have, and helping me to the best of their abilities.
This past week I had the great opportunity to attend an interdisciplinary meeting arranged by the director of weight loss surgery at Norwood hospital. This meeting involved all disciplines from office staff, to OR staff and dietitians. These meetings are held every few months to make sure that everyone is on the same page with any changes or updates within the department. The department director brought in two of his previous patients to share their experiences. I felt very fortunate to have the opportunity to hear the former patients speak about their lifelong difficulties with weight, struggling with diet after diet, difficulty with daily tasks like walking up the stairs, and how their lives were transformed by receiving lap band surgery. They spoke about how the unfaltering support from their surgeon and health care team, even when they had setbacks, was instrumental to their long-term success.
Another interesting point during the meeting was when the department director introduced the topic of a new procedure they would be offering, called Orbera intragastric balloon. This is 20 minute non-surgical procedure. It is done endoscopically, where a soft, silicone balloon is passed through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach, then it is filled with saline to the size of a grapefruit. The balloon creates a feeling of fullness, which promotes portion control and results in a 20-30 lb weight loss. The balloon stays in the stomach for 6 months and then is removed. The patient will implement dietary and exercise changes for the duration of the 6 months, to maintain weight loss or continue weight loss after the balloon is removed. I think this non-invasive procedure is a great addition to the toolbox of medical intervention of weight loss. The epidemic of overweight and obesity is something we are all familiar with and this procedure could be a great stepping stone for some individuals to implement important lifestyle changes.
This past week I had the great opportunity to attend an interdisciplinary meeting arranged by the director of weight loss surgery at Norwood hospital. This meeting involved all disciplines from office staff, to OR staff and dietitians. These meetings are held every few months to make sure that everyone is on the same page with any changes or updates within the department. The department director brought in two of his previous patients to share their experiences. I felt very fortunate to have the opportunity to hear the former patients speak about their lifelong difficulties with weight, struggling with diet after diet, difficulty with daily tasks like walking up the stairs, and how their lives were transformed by receiving lap band surgery. They spoke about how the unfaltering support from their surgeon and health care team, even when they had setbacks, was instrumental to their long-term success.
Another interesting point during the meeting was when the department director introduced the topic of a new procedure they would be offering, called Orbera intragastric balloon. This is 20 minute non-surgical procedure. It is done endoscopically, where a soft, silicone balloon is passed through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach, then it is filled with saline to the size of a grapefruit. The balloon creates a feeling of fullness, which promotes portion control and results in a 20-30 lb weight loss. The balloon stays in the stomach for 6 months and then is removed. The patient will implement dietary and exercise changes for the duration of the 6 months, to maintain weight loss or continue weight loss after the balloon is removed. I think this non-invasive procedure is a great addition to the toolbox of medical intervention of weight loss. The epidemic of overweight and obesity is something we are all familiar with and this procedure could be a great stepping stone for some individuals to implement important lifestyle changes.
