As chronic obesity in the United States increases to epidemic proportions, the need for sonography waiting areas and examination rooms to provide sufficient support for obese patients also increases. The purpose of the present study is to determine if these facilities are making the necessary changes to accommodate obese patients. Data were collected from 20 sonography facilities regarding the size of patient gowns, blood pressure cuffs, and size and weight tolerances of examination tables and waiting room chairs. The data were then compared to sizes that accommodate obese patients comfortably. Results show that sonography facilities are not accommodating obese patients.
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