prevention of patient fall in the hospital and care of vulnerable patients

prevention of fall

1. PRESENTATION ON : VULNERABLE PATIENTS, POSITION CHANGING OF A BED RIDDEN PATIENT AND FALL PREVENTION

2. VULNERABLE PATIENTS Who is Considered a Vulnerable Patient? Patients with mental health problems The disabled The elderly (above 65 years of age) Some chronically ill patients Some terminally ill people Children (Below 12 years)

3. VULNERABLE PATIENTS Children can sometimes come under the vulnerable patient’s category as well, but normally they have parents or guardians to look after and make their decisions for them. Vulnerable patients can be described as the elderly, children, the mentally ill, sedated and anesthetized patients, patients whose mental or cognitive ability is compromised and patients who are disabled and immobilized. These patients may not be able to make decisions for themselves, they may need help with physical tasks like eating, or they might require severe emotional assistance.

4. WHEEL OF CHANGE OF BED RIDDEN PATIENTS

5. Definition of Fall A patient fall is defined as an event that results in a sudden, unplanned descent (fall) of a patient to the floor with or without injury. Falls may be at different levels – i.e., from one level to ground level e.g. from beds, wheelchairs or down stairs on the same level as a result of slipping, tripping, or stumbling, or from a collision, pushing, or shoving, by or with another person below ground level, i.e. into a hole or other opening in surface. Not all patient falls are predictable or preventable in acute care hospitals. Some falls are simply the result of individual physiological responses to illness or treatment in care settings in which patient ambulation is essential to recovery.

6. TYPES OF FALL Accidental falls – Occur when patients fall unintentionally because of an environmental hazard or equipment failure (14% of all falls). Anticipated Physiological Falls – Occur in patients with known risk factors for tripping related to the patient’s underlying medical condition (78% of all falls) Unanticipated Physiological Fall – Falls which occur in patients who do not have identified risk factors until the fall occurs – e.g. faints,  seizures . (8% of all falls)

7. How Hospitals Can Prevent Patient Falls The measures as follows: Identifying the vulnerable groups Assessment of Vulnerable patient within 2 hrs. Applying yellow band. Applying side railings. Applying brakes for all the cots. Patient First card at the edge of the cot. Education to the relative on fall risk prevention. Education of the staff of fall risk assessment. Uses of grab bars and call bells. Importance of using safety belts on stretcher and wheel chairs. Conducting training classes regularly.

8. PREVENTION OF FALL Do’s Always sit for some time before standing up and walking to avoid giddiness and falls. Keep the washroom floor dry At home shower mats can be used to prevent falls in bathrooms for persons having difficulty in walking on wet floor or tiled flooring Seek assistance as and when required to go to the washroom especially in the night and early morning Ask the doctor if any of the prescribed medications can cause giddiness, examples antihypertensive, pain killers like Tramadol so that required precautions can be taken to avoid falls Exercise regularly Wear footwear that do not skid Ensure entryways and staircase areas are well lit Education to the patient and relative on fall risk prevention.

9. PREVENTION OF FALL Don’ts Never put the side rails down Never forget to call for help  Never make your room dark  Never move about or walk (ambulate) without assistance of a health care personnel  Do not forget to inform your nurse while change of attendants For attendant/Caregiver/Nurse Never leave the patient unattended  Never allow the patient alone to washrooms especially during night