Spectrum Health Primary Care Partners

Obesity / Bariatric Medicine

A physician who specializes in the treatment of obesity demonstrates competency in and a thorough understanding of the treatment of obesity and the genetic, biologic, environmental, social, and behavioral factors that contribute to obesity. The obesity medicine physician employs therapeutic interventions including diet, physical activity, behavioral change, and pharmacotherapy. The obesity medicine physician utilizes a comprehensive approach, and may include additional resources such as dietitians, exercise physiologists, mental health professionals and bariatric surgeons as indicated to achieve optimal results. Additionally, the obesity medicine physician maintains competency in providing pre- peri- and post-surgical care of bariatric surgery patients, promotes the prevention of obesity, and advocates for those who suffer from obesity.

Dietetics

Spectrum Health Primary Care Partners is a Dietetics practice in Grand Rapids, MI with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in assessing, diagnosing, and treating dietary and nutritional problems. Registered Dietitians at Spectrum Health Primary Care Partners perform nutritional counseling for people who wish to lose weight, have an eating disorder, need a customized diet for health reasons, experience food allergies or intolerances, suffer a digestive disorder, or wish to improve athletic ability. Dietetics is a medical specialty focused on the use of food and nutrition to promote health and manage disease. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Dietetics practices include anorexia, bulimia, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, acid reflux, cancer, obesity, pregnancy, food allergy and intolerance, and celiac disease. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Dietetics practices include creating exclusion diet plans, advising patients on supplement use, creating specialized diet plans for diabetic patients, offering patient and parental nutrition education, prescribing some types of medication, and referring patients to other specialists as needed.

A Registered Dietitian (RD)/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is an individual uniquely trained in the science of nutrition and practice of dietetics to design and provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and other evidence-based applications of the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) that exemplify the profession's systematic approach to providing high quality nutrition care. Registered dietitians provide MNT for the purpose of disease prevention or management, or to treat or rehabilitate an illness, injury, or condition, with the use of specific, indicated physical and cognitive nutrition care services comprised of one or more of the following aspects of the NCP: nutrition assessment/reassessment, nutrition diagnosis, nutrition intervention (e.g., nutrition counseling, therapeutic diet ordering, and nutrition education) and nutrition monitoring and evaluation.

Surgery

Spectrum Health Primary Care Partners is a Surgery practice in Grand Rapids, MI with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in performing surgical procedures within a wide variety of specialties. Surgeons at Spectrum Health Primary Care Partners perform surgical operations to prevent or remedy illness, injury, or dysfunction relating to patient anatomy. Surgery is a medical specialty focusing on surgical operations performed as emergency or elective procedures. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Surgery practices include appendicitis, heart disease, pancreatitis, traumatic injury, cancer, congenital birth defect, oral disease or dysfunction, gallbladder disease, kidney stones, chronic back, neck, or joint pain, chronic sinus infection, brain disorders, and eye injury or illness. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Surgery practices include laboratory testing, surgical procedures, post-operative care, patient education, anesthesia administration, and pre-and post-operative medication prescription.

A general surgeon has expertise related to the diagnosis - preoperative, operative and postoperative management - and management of complications of surgical conditions in the following areas: alimentary tract; abdomen; breast, skin and soft tissue; endocrine system; head and neck surgery; pediatric surgery; surgical critical care; surgical oncology; trauma and burns; and vascular surgery. General surgeons increasingly provide care through the use of minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques. Many general surgeons also possess expertise in transplantation surgery, plastic surgery and cardiothoracic surgery.