This is the Weight and Healthcare newsletter! If you like what you are reading, please consider subscribing and/or sharing! I just had my yearly mammogram. I had to find a new place because the big fancy cancer center I went to last time didn’t have any chairs in the waiting room that accommodated me, and didn’t have any gowns that fit me (for reference I’m a US size 26/28). I asked for a bigger gown and instead they gave me another of the same size. When I pointed this out they told me “that’s the biggest gown they make” (false) and suggested I try to wear two gowns at the same time (one the standard way, and one Snuggie™ style) but they were heavy and hot and it was a bit like wearing a straight-jacket. Today’s appointment was perfection – the chairs were armless, the robes were accommodating, and I didn’t experience any fatphobia from the admin staff or the tech. But in reflecting on the first experience, I thought I would write about options for practitioners who are faced with a situation where they are unable to accommodate a higher weight patient with the resources at their disposal.
Ragen - your observations are on the nose, as usual. So much of what you've written IS specific
to big people, BUT the underlying problem applies to everyone: People in service trades are not
being taught what ought to be the mantra of their work: The CUSTOMER is always right; we are
here to SERVE ANY CUSTOMER; WE are ALWAYS willing to take the blame if something goes wrong - mistakes are NEVER put on the customer! In other words: CUSTOMER SERVICE has
become a dead issue - no one wants to put themselves out for the people who actually pay
their wages: the customers. Something has to get employers back to training their staffs to
keep these things in mind: no customers, no jobs for you! Especially in the medical trades,
where low-to-mid-level employees tend to get, well -- uppity with the patrons --- training ought
to be mandatory in how to treat the people you serve.
Thanks so much for addressing this. I plan to send it to my healthcare provider. I just experienced being told that the outpatient facility where they scheduled my colonoscopy/endoscopy can’t accommodate me because my BMI is over their limit! This appointment was made 2 months ago and both my husband and I had to schedule a day off so that he could accompany me and drive me home. Now they tell me that there are no appointments available for the next 3 months and will have to call me back when the August scheduling calendar opens up. I was not particularly looking forward to this procedure as it is. I wonder how many people who experience this kind of thing will just give up and avoid this type of potentially life-saving screening because of failures like this. So frustrating!!!
This needed to be said. I hear a lot of BS stories from my clients about their fatphobic doctor, nurse, etc. It really makes it harder for them and contributes to disordered eating. UGH! Keep writing Ragen! I appreciate you.
Ragen - your observations are on the nose, as usual. So much of what you've written IS specific
to big people, BUT the underlying problem applies to everyone: People in service trades are not
being taught what ought to be the mantra of their work: The CUSTOMER is always right; we are
here to SERVE ANY CUSTOMER; WE are ALWAYS willing to take the blame if something goes wrong - mistakes are NEVER put on the customer! In other words: CUSTOMER SERVICE has
become a dead issue - no one wants to put themselves out for the people who actually pay
their wages: the customers. Something has to get employers back to training their staffs to
keep these things in mind: no customers, no jobs for you! Especially in the medical trades,
where low-to-mid-level employees tend to get, well -- uppity with the patrons --- training ought
to be mandatory in how to treat the people you serve.
That's MY rant for the day!
Thanks so much for addressing this. I plan to send it to my healthcare provider. I just experienced being told that the outpatient facility where they scheduled my colonoscopy/endoscopy can’t accommodate me because my BMI is over their limit! This appointment was made 2 months ago and both my husband and I had to schedule a day off so that he could accompany me and drive me home. Now they tell me that there are no appointments available for the next 3 months and will have to call me back when the August scheduling calendar opens up. I was not particularly looking forward to this procedure as it is. I wonder how many people who experience this kind of thing will just give up and avoid this type of potentially life-saving screening because of failures like this. So frustrating!!!
This needed to be said. I hear a lot of BS stories from my clients about their fatphobic doctor, nurse, etc. It really makes it harder for them and contributes to disordered eating. UGH! Keep writing Ragen! I appreciate you.
Great essay, Ragen. But I think you left out a crucial DO NOT in this sentence (under "Other Solutions", second paragraph):
"By non-shaming I mean protocols that blame fat bodies for not being accommodated"
Surely that should read
"By non-shaming I mean protocols that DO NOT blame fat bodies for not being accommodated"
Right?
Once again, you got everything right, Ragen! Thank you so much.