INDIANAPOLIS – Prospective bariatric surgery patients can get an up-close view of what to expect from their procedures, thanks to a partnership forged between the St. Francis Weight Loss Center and Medical Animatics, LLC.
The collaboration harnesses the medical expertise of St. Francis clinicians and the technological prowess of Medical Animatics, an Indianapolis-based company specializing in medical and scientific visualizations.
The Web-based education portal, appropriately named “MyInformedChoice ®,” is designed to provide patients with a full complement of educational content. Patients can logon using any Internet enabled personal computer. Patients can then access , the visually rich presentation that includes 2-D and 3-D animations, audio narration, surgical video and interactive tools.
The multimedia program guides users through the process of what takes place during bariatric and gastric banding procedures, including the benefits and risks. They also can view the various aspects of follow-up care they can expect during recovery.
“This technology educates patients with easy-to-understand information and the most visually accurate details, enabling them to make informed choices about their health care,” said Eve Olson, M.D., medical director of the Weight Loss Center and a member of the St. Francis Medical Group. “It also uses patients’ informed consent designed to improve their medical outcomes and future wellness.”
Patients can access the site at any time and share it with others.
"Having this information at a patient's or family member's fingertips can make a difference in understanding this life-changing surgery," said Kim Peters, R.N., bariatric coordinator.
Once patients have been approved for surgery at St. Francis, they can complete the informed consent portion of the program.
“We’re excited to bring this cutting edge technology to patients who are considering bariatric surgery at St. Francis Weight Loss Center,” said Harlon Wilson, president and CEO of Medical Animatics. “Patients who use this innovative tool have demonstrated significant improvements in learning about medical treatment. St. Francis is an excellent example of a forward-thinking hospital that embraces innovative technology in support of improving their patients’ outcomes.
The St. Francis Weight Loss Center is an American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. The center offers medical and surgical treatments for obesity, including physician-supervised weight loss, LAP-BAND and Realize adjustable gastric bands, gastric bypass surgery, gastric sleeve surgery, group weight management programs and StomaphyX procedures for previous gastric bypass patients.
More information about the center is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/weightloss.
For more information about Medical Animatics, visit its Website at http://medicalanimatics.com/flash-site.
