The Texas Children’s Metabolic Health and Bariatric Surgery Center’s Medication Pathway is the newest addition to our program. Due to increased demand for weight management options other than surgery, our team expanded our services to better serve our patients. This pathway requires lifestyle changes similar to those required for surgery, but adds in medications based on medical history, side-effect profile, and insurance coverage/affordability.
The partnering of the medical pathway with the surgery pathway gives another option to patients who either do not meet the bariatric surgery criteria or are not ready for weight loss surgery. Patients may start on one pathway and transition to the other.
One of the key aspects of the medication pathway is that education is provided to families regarding weight management options based on patient needs and history.
Initially, the patient will attend a virtual seminar conducted by a surgeon explaining the program and pathways.
After the guardian and patient attend seminar, they will attend an in-person consultation with a surgeon for medical history, to answer any questions, and select the pathway. Diagnostic testing is ordered at the initial consult.
If medications are appropriate for care, the options will be discussed at the follow-up visit after all diagnostic testing is completed.
Medications are monitored with reassessment regarding response.
The patient will be required to attend appointments for refills.
The patient is transitioned back to his or her primary care physician at the end of the 12-month program.
The overall structure involves these components:
12-month program: seen monthly until stabilized on medications, then seen every 3 months
