Question

A 13-year-old male presents to his primary care provider for his annual school physical and is noted to be grossly overweight. His vital signs include a BP of 138/70, pulse of 88, and respirations of 18. He seems somewhat winded from walking from the waiting room to the exam room. His urine dip reveals trace protein and mild amounts of glucose and you suspect he already has Type 2 diabetes or is quickly on his way to becoming a Type 2 diabetic. You arrange for a fasting glucose and HgA1C to be drawn. Knowing that his family cannot afford multiple physician visits, you determine that you will have him follow up with the nurse practitioner at the free clinic in his inner-city neighborhood, and you have also arranged for diet counseling with a dietitian at the same clinic. You are quite proud of the fact that you have engaged your inter-professional partners and have worked toward a better outcome that is lower cost for the patient.

How can this plan be altered so that it becomes an interdisciplinary plan

What about the fact his mother has never learned to prepare fresh fruits or vegetables, has never seen an avocado, and has never been taught how to prepare dinners that incorporate healthy foods?

What about the fact his neighborhood is one in which jogging, running, or walking might not be the safest things to do, and as a result his exercise is highly curtailed?

What is the likelihood that this young man will have a positive health outcome in the years to come if the previous items are not addressed?

reframing the Case Study: Treatment Options

In this case study, a partnership must be forged not only with other healthcare providers, but also with the school, the child’s mother, community leaders, private corporations, and public health departments.

What kinds of public-private partnerships could you forge to change the access to fruits and vegetables and decrease the potential for disparities based on race, neighborhood, and countless other factors?

What types of partnerships with local government and perhaps private entities might enable members to tear down several abandoned buildings and turn the lot into a park for recreation and exercise for the neighborhood?

What school and community leaders could be approached to eliminate the junk food and soda vending machines from the school?

What research data could you bring to or interpret for a policymaker that would help the policymaker sell the idea to his/her colleagues?

Answer 1

This plan can be altered by a multidisciplinary team of Physician, Endocrinologist (Diabetes ),cardiologist ( increased BP) Nutritionist.Here everyone works towards a common patient goal in helping to recover fully

Healthy foods ard usually done in home,but here the mother is not aware of cooking and its benefits and avoiding unnecessary heslth problem. It is the high time for the mother to tske action to provide a healthy lifestyle yo her son

The government can do recreation of the park for exercise purpose having a public private partnership

The young man will have a positive outcome when he follows a proper diet and exercise

The school Health nurse has to take part in this and insist about the harmful effects of soda and junk food instead veggies and healthy food can be sold by the schools