Systems approach to childhood and adolescent obesity prevention and treatment in a managed care organization.

OBJECTIVE

To outline an intervention approach to childhood and adolescent obesity prevention and treatment, that will systematically facilitate effective communication, provide long-term social support and access to resources, that may be accessed proactively or on demand. Furthermore, this approach operates in an environment that involves all critical parties: child/adolescent, family-unit, physician and allied health professionals. SYSTEMS THINKING APPROACH: The objective is to bring together all key stakeholders and consider the interrelationships among them as a common process. In a managed care setting, this may be accomplished by optimizing the contributions of care delivery, health promotion and information systems.

SETTING

A not-for-profit, community governed Managed Care Organization (MCO) in the Midwestern United States. Telephone-based, centralized services facilitate a process of access, communication, documentation and intervention implementation.

CASE STUDIES

Two case studies are presented as examples of how access is obtained, the intervention is tailored to individual needs, communication is established, documentation is organized and long-term support is facilitated.

CONCLUSIONS

A systems thinking approach to obesity prevention and treatment in youth has great potential. In a MCO setting, such an approach may be implemented, since integrated health care delivery systems may allow a common process to be established that can bring together all key stakeholders.