Texas hospital bans obese workers

[SoCalDem]

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/04/09/texas-hospital-fat-people-bmi-need-not-apply

Texas hospital bans obese workers?
By Craig Johnson
updated 3:03 PM EDT, Mon April 09, 2012


A Texas hospital that incorporates in its hiring policy an applicant’s body mass index -- a formula that assesses one's health based on their weight and height --- hurts patient care, critics say. Citizens Medical Center, located in Victoria, requires its employees "fit with a representational image or specific mental projection of the job of a healthcare professional,” including having an appearance “free from distraction” for patients, according to the Texas Tribune newspaper. Potential employees must have a BMI of less than 35 (185 lbs for someone who is 5-1; or 265 lbs for someone who is 6-1), according to the newspaper.

But is this legal? In Texas and most states, yes.

“The policy is not against Texas law," Daniel S. Hamermesh, an economics professor at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of “Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful,” told HLN. "But I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lawsuit challenging the policy under the federal Americans with Disability Act." Critics say the weight requirement not only discriminates against perfectly able and highly skilled workers who may be a bit on the chunky side, but it also exposes the scant legal protection afforded to obese workers. A call to Citizens Medical Center CEO David Brown by HLN was not returned, but in an interview with the Tribune, Brown defended the hospital’s policy as one that caters to its patients. “The majority of our patients are over 65, and they have expectations that cannot be ignored in terms of personal appearance,” he said. “We have the ability as an employer to characterize our process and to have a policy that says what’s best for our business and for our patients." Peggy Howell, spokeswoman for the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, told HLN that the requirement raised a number of questions that expose the hospital as discriminatory. “This new policy is a clear example of weight bias and fat hatred. How will their fat patients be treated if they are requiring their employees to meet a BMI requirement?"

snip

[lpbk2713]

1. I'd love to see pics of the top brass of this hospital.

But as always, rules don't apply to the upper echelons.

[Mimosa]

8. Here's CEO David Brown of 'Citizens Medical Center'

Oh, he's a mean one. This is what happens when hospitals are about 'profit' .

http://m.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2010/jun/17/sl_citizens_vacation_061810_100307/

[lpbk2713]

10. I read some of the comments.

He seems like a typical one percenter.

"I want my piece of the pie and yours too."

[Warpy]

2. It's just another way to get rid of older nurses

in favor of kids just out of nursing school who work cheaper.

[SoCalDem]

3. Their physicians' list does not contain the BMI of the doctors

they better fix that


http://www.healthgrades.com/hospital-directory/texas-tx-southern/affiliated-physicians-HGSTDF1BC8B6450023

[Sgent]

7. Physicians almost never work for a hospital

directly for a variety of issues. Trust me, they aren't going to relieve a cardiologist that brings in 10's of millions of dollars (or more) due to obesity when they don't even pay their benefits.

[glowing]

4. Then they should change their crazy scheduling practices... 12 hr days with a mix-match

of shifts... How does one even keep up... these nurses are on their feet and on a "run" from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave... and because more and more people don't have insurance or cannot afford to see a Dr, there are less workers per patient (though the people at the top who are running the show seem to still get more money and bonuses and the investment people are running fat on the hog with making money off of the ill which is just immoral).

So, when does a worker get time to go work out? When do they even have time to eat a healthy meal? It amazes me how badly these health professionals harm themselves.. overstressed, overworked, messed up schedules, shifts too long... all the makings of dying from some type of disease they try to treat like heart attacks and diabetes.

[southernyankeebelle]

5. well I bet they don't mind taking obese patients.

[Brickbat]

6. That CEO totally blamed patients for this. WTF?

"The majority of our patients are over 65, and they have expectations that cannot be ignored in terms of personal appearance."

[Mimosa]

9. He's a dirty liar.

People over 65 who need hospital care probably want staff who know what they're doing and act as if they care.