Necessary Components

We found that these components were necessary for weight management services to be successful. You probably need at least some level of each to make weight management “work” in your practices.

Reimbursement: A way to get it paid for

Let’s face it, we are not in practice to lose money, and delivering weight management isn’t often a money-maker. As you search the different options for what might work for your practice, consider what ways you can generate revenue as this is important.

Knowledge: Knowing what to do/how to do weight management

You need to know something about evidence-based approaches to helping patients to lose weight. There are a variety of treatment options that can be used, and knowing what to do with the patient in front of you is needed. You don’t have to be an expert in all aspects of obesity treatment but knowing what to do when will help. The key is to know that there ARE options such as healthy lifestyle and diet counseling, medications, referral to programs, and bariatric surgery, to name a few. There are also programs to help you know what to do if becoming highly trained is not for your circumstances.

Process: A system that works for your practice

Although you may tailor your treatment approach to each patient's individual needs, it does help to have a system or process that holds what you are doing so you can do it consistently and well. Who does what when are the building blocks of that system. The model choices can help you decide what will work for your practice's circumstances, and you can go there. This process includes some way of assessing how the system is working and how modifications may be made (quality improvement).

Champion/Leader: Vision and leadership

If no one in your practice is willing to drive this forward, it is unlikely to happen. We know that in busy primary care practices, there are many competing priorities. Make an intentional commitment to take this on as a quality improvement project and have someone responsible for it. It does not need to be a physician or even a clinical person leading, but someone needs to lead it. Be clear about what you want out of this, and you’ll be more successful in making progress.