A Q&A with CHP Size-Inclusive Care Coordinator Annie Schwartz
Annie Schwartz, MS RDN LDN, is a clinical nutritionist and Size-Inclusive Care coordinator. Along with the CHP Size-Inclusive Care Committee, she is passionate about making health care inclusive and accessible for all bodies.
Q. What is Size-Inclusive Care?
A. Size-Inclusive Care is a holistic, judgment-free approach in which healthcare providers evaluate all indicators of a patient’s health without over-focusing on weight and body size.
Q. How does weight bias show up in healthcare?
A. Weight bias can cause a clinician to make assumptions about a patient’s health and lifestyle based on weight or body size. If a clinician focuses primarily on body weight, underlying medical issues can be overlooked. These kinds of interactions may cause patients to avoid medical care.
Q. What is CHP doing to address weight stigma and adopt a Size-Inclusive Care model of care?
A. CHP has offered Size-Inclusive Care training to our clinical staff to raise awareness of possible weight bias. These trainings offer new ways of approaching care and communication with larger-bodied patients. Providers are encouraged to empower patients in asking for the kind of care they want to receive. With the support of grant partnerships and philanthropic supporters, we are working to increase the accessibility and comfort of our patient spaces and equipment across all practices.
Q. How can patients find a Size-Inclusive Care provider at CHP?
A. There is at least one provider at each CHP location who practices Size-Inclusive Care. If you are interested in receiving Size-Inclusive Care at CHP, please contact sizeinclusivecare@chpberkshires.org or call us at 413.528.9311 x 1055.
Q. Any last thoughts, Annie?
A. We believe that all of our patients should receive the health care they want and deserve regardless of their body size or weight. It de-emphasizes weight and instead focuses on all indicators of health. Size-Inclusive Care is for all patients, not just those in larger bodies.
CHP Size-Inclusive Care Support Group
Led by Annie Schwartz, Clinical Nutritionist, and Kim Loring, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Wednesdays on Zoom from 5-6 p.m. (Available only to CHP patients.)
For more information, email our Size-Inclusive Care team.