Muir co-authored a number of research studies on the subject of safe patient handling and developed safe patient handling programs for several facilities throughout her career. She says there are major ergonomic health risks when it comes to handling bariatric patients and proper bariatric products are crucial in avoiding injuries.

"We need to go with the mechanization because of the safety factor and the risk for the patient is magnified. Whenever in doubt, we need to go with the equipment," she says.


TSK Products is another specialty medical equipment provider. Michael Klein, the company's co-founder and vice president, says some years ago, around 2003, few hospitals had the proper equipment to deal with obese or morbidly obese patients.

"When bariatric surgeries started increasing, we knew of only one manufacturer in the country that made bariatric furniture. Now, almost all furniture manufacturers offer a bariatric line," he says. Yet, according to Klein, "the demand for the equipment has slowed down. What we are seeing now - unless it's a new hospital construction - is that the demand is in the replacement or upgrading of existing equipment. It's a little different market than it was five to six years ago, when we first started."

Among its product offerings, TSK Products sells bariatric toilet support kits, briefs, blood pressure cuffs, patient lifts, lateral transfers and furniture. Klein says that transfer and transport items are most in demand when it comes to bariatric products.

"When you transport someone, you're going from patient room to anywhere in the hospital, so you might have a stretcher, a wheelchair or a bed, all that are designed to accommodate the high weight," explains Klein. "The transfer is getting them from the bed onto the stretcher, and that could include a lift or a lateral transfer device," he says.

However, not everyone agrees that there is enough proper equipment to accommodate heavier people. The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), a nonprofit organization working to end weight discrimination at every size, is grateful for the manufacturers that focus on making larger equipment, but thinks that medical facilities need to be more proactive.

"We believe that there's certainly not enough equipment available for people of size. As the nation continues to grow larger, there are many areas where accommodations are not being made for the people of this country, especially the fat people of this country," says Peggy Howell, the organization's public relations director.

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