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Big costs for N.J. hospitals treating obese patients

Monday, 25 June 2012 11:50
BY BOB HOLT
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
One out of four adults in New Jersey is obese, and New Jersey hospitals are reinforcing their treatments centers to safely accommodate their patients of a larger stature.

According to NorthJersey.com, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center has added a stretcher and loading ramp for ambulances to support patients of up to 1,100 pounds. Hackensack University Medical Center is spending $200,000 on two reinforced operating tables, and St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center has four new bariatric rooms that can hold patients in excess of 1,000 pounds, upgrades costing them about $400,000.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that medical costs of obesity related conditions were $147 billion in 2008. Annual health-care costs for the obese patient average $1,429 more, or 42 percent higher, than annual costs for those of normal weight.

The American Hospital Association reported that hospitalizations of obese children increased by 75 percent across the U.S. from 2001 to 2005. St. Joseph’s new rooms include one for obese teens.

Meanwhile, according to a safety report issued by the Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit organization run by purchasers of health benefits, Morristown Medical Center received an A Hospital Safety Score.

According to Morristown Patch, hospitals received an A, B, C, D, or F for their safety practices, using data on patient injuries, medical and medication errors, and infections.

The News of Cumberland County reported that South Jersey Healthcare-Regional Medical Center did not fare quite as well, receiving a C grade. The Center says they rely on different benchmarks than the Leapfrog Group to measure success.

23 of New Jersey’s 73 hospitals scored As, 33 received Bs, and 15 were given Cs in the reports.

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