At the Doctor
LiveWell Greenville supports health care providers with tools to better prevent and treat obesity and lifestyle-related chronic disease in the primary care setting.
Our Goals
- Health care providers accurately track and report BMI to patients and families during every well check
- Health care providers have useful materials including local resources to which they can refer patients for healthier eating and more active living
- Clinicians are trained in effective patient interview and counseling techniques so they can coach their patients for success in healthy eating and active living
- Clinicians are provided with up-to-date, eye-catching literature for patients
The Challenge
The primary care practice should be a natural setting to address healthy eating and active living. However, health care providers face obstacles such as time contraints, inadequate training in effective interview and counseling techniques, lack of reimbursement for treating obesity, and lack of resources for patient referrals. LiveWell Greenville supports physicians and clinical staff in encouraging healthy lifestyles.
How will health care providers help patients LiveWell?
- At every visit, health care providers will calculate a patient’s Body Mass Index and inform the patient or caregiver of that number
Almost every physician practice in Greenville County collects BMI during preventive visits, but there is variability in how that data is used during the patient visit. Furthermore, nursing staff may not be adequately trained to measure BMI in a consistent manner; variations include whether shoes are worn and how the patient’s head is tilted during height measurement. As a result, health care providers don’t always have clear and accurate trends on which to base patient counseling.
Beginning with a pilot project during the Spring of 2011, LiveWell Greenville pediatrician practices will post prompts for clinical staff at scales to encourage recording and reporting during every visit.
- Health care providers will provide patients with practical referrals for healthy eating, active living, and treatment for obesity
Clinicians do their best to encourage patients to eat healthy foods and to be more physically active. But they don’t always have resources at their fingertips to offer patients, such as parks and trails near the patient’s home, ideas for nutritious and affordable snacks, or tips for making smart meal decisions. During Fall of 2011, LiveWell Greenville will share referral resources with three Greenville County pediatric practices to support families in living well.
- Health care providers will coach patients in attainable goal setting
Most patients know they should eat healthy foods and exercise every day. But turning knowledge into action is difficult. LiveWell Greenville will train interested local clinicians in Motivational Interviewing, a proven method of coaching patients in realistic goal setting. Three pediatric practices piloted Motivational Interviewing during the Spring of 2011, and LiveWell Greenville expected to partner with additional practices during the year.
Partners: The Children’s Clinic, Eastside Pediatrics, Greenville Health System University Medical Center Pediatrics Clinic and New Horizon Family Health Services.
