Case presentation

By: Ashley Thalasinos

Swk 4910

Background information:
A 52 year old female that is suffering from congestive heart
failure, and many other health issues due to her weight.
Weighs 576 pounds, and keeps getting turned down by facilities
that focus on weight loss due to her size.
She has a legitimate health problem that contributes to her size,
but doctors will not study her case
She shared that at age three she was 103 pounds. It is not her
thyroid because she has had it removed.

Biases I had going into the interview:

When I first spoke with this lady I thought to myself that this
woman did this to herself. Maybe she was depressed and turned to
food. I didnt know why she was this way.
After speaking with her and handling her case, I realized this was
not her fault.

Events and life experiences that shaped them

into the way they are:
My patients weight gain is not her fault. She has an unknown
medical issue that makes her have no control of her weight. She
wants to receive help and lose the weight, but no doctors will take
her case, and no facilities will help her either. So the hospital has
to discharge her home. Within a month, this patient is usually re
admitted to the hospital.

Strengths and Limitations

Strengths
Alert and oriented
Wants to lose weight, just cant because of medical issues
Takes care of herself and lives alone, but family is near by for help

Limitations
Cant receive help for her weight loss problem
Has mild depression

Staff recommendations, interventions, and

treatment:
The patient has actually been to a variety of different facilities
located out of state that focuses on weight loss.
She will lose weight, but gains it right back due to her medical
condition.
So the doctors and case managers at Scotland Memorial Hospital
recommended Kindred, a transitional care hospital, to assist the
patient for a longer-term.
I helped gather and fax paperwork over to Kindred, but patient was
discharged home, so we do not know if she was ever accepted.

What does research say on their diagnosis:

My patient has an uncontrollable weight gain problem that she has
dealt with all her life.
She has been to doctors all over North Carolina, and even went to
a treatment center in Ohio, but no research has ever been one on
her to determine her medical issue.

Changes recommended for the agency or

service:

To avoid the likelihood of this patient being re-admitted,

the doctors at Scotland Memorial Hospital needs to
intervene and study her case, or find someone who will
because this patient is suffering and her health keeps
declining.

Competencies and Practice behaviors used:

Competencies:
1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9

Practice behaviors:
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30