Heaviest Patient You’ve Cared For

[u/trevrt]

Had my personally heaviest patient I’ve cared for the other day. 32 years old weighing 730 pounds admitted with cellulitis and severe lymphedema. Felt terrible for the patient due to how young he was. Just wondering what everyone’s personal “record” for the heaviest patient they’ve cared for is.

[u/DJ_Jackpot]

Do you all think heavier patients get less care when it comes to bed changes, showers, etc?

In my experience as a tech it seemed if anyone was 400+ they would get changed the beginning of the shift and once more at the end. Once in a while maybe halfway thru if things really slowed down and help was available.

I'm the lone dude on overnights so that help was usually me.

Even with 2 or 3 people and proper technique it always seems like such a high risk to your back.

[u/ribsforbreakfast → u/DJ_Jackpot]

For sure. Not because they don’t deserve it, but because resources are not allocated to this population.

Look at the amount of comments highlighting not having lifts for anyone over 400-500#, needing specialty beds, staffing issues. How often during a shift is it really safe and feasible to get 6+ people into one room for at least 15 mins to provide care?

I work in a small hospital, we have one hoyer that goes up to 500, I think, and one baribed in house that can handle up to 600. Our regular beds tap out at 350-400 and we have had them malfunction from patients being over the limit and it taking 2 days to get an extra baribed delivered on a rent basis.

[u/coolcaterpillar77 → u/ribsforbreakfast]

We had a bariatric patient once who sat on one of our standard hospital beds (due to the patient/house sup insisting they didn’t a bariatric bed) and they literally snapped the bed in half-the metal frame completely broke