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Fall Prevention at St. Edward Mercy
Patient falls can lead to complications, further medication conditions, increased lengths of stays, and even death. St. Edward Mercy Medical Center has a comprehensive fall prevention policy in place that has been shown to decrease patient falls in the facility. The hospital is also a member of a larger system-wide ‘Falls Task Force’ which is evaluating recommendations from national organizations and developing new risk reduction strategies. St. Edward Mercy fully complies with the Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals, one of which is the reduction on falls.
St. Edward Mercy Risk Reduction Strategies
The following are risk reduction strategies that have been implemented by St. Edward Mercy Medical Center.
- Frequent Fall Risk Assessments
- Installing bed alarms or redesigning bed alarm checks and tests.
- Keep two (2) side rails up at all times on all patients.
- Restricting window openings.
- Providing fall prevention education for patients and their families.
- Improving and standardizing nurse call systems.
- Using "low beds" for those at risk for falls.
- Night or bathroom light on.
- Locate items close to patient’s bed.
- Instruct patient to ask for assistance with ambulation after medications that cause weakness and/or dizziness.
Precautions for at risk patients
When identified, St. Edward Mercy implements specific precautions and interventions for patients that are assessed as ‘Moderate or High Risk’. Some precautions include:
- Placement of yellow armband on patient identified as having a fall risk
- Placement of fall risk magnet on patient’s doorframe
- Activation of bed alert while patient is in the bed or wheelchair alert when up in wheelchair or chair
- Computerized prompting of nurses to complete the patient assessment
- Review fall precautions with patient and family
- Use of non-skid shoes or slippers when ambulating
- Offering toileting every 2 hours and as needed
What you can do to help?
Be alert to situations in which you could experience a fall:
- Ask for help when getting out of bed, especially at night. The hospital is an unfamiliar place and most falls occur when patients try to get out of bed on their own to go to the bathroom
- Make sure the nurse-call button on your bed works, you know how to use it, and you can reach it
- If possible, call for help before the need to get to the bathroom becomes urgent
- Make sure there is adequate light to see; keep you eyeglasses within reach
- Wear slippers with rubber soles to prevent slipping
- Point out to staff any spills or obstructions on the floor
- Make sure the brakes are locked and foot rests are up when you get into or out of a wheelchair
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