Clinical Insights: Medical beds, fall prevention and a safer care environment
Today, we welcome Bob Andersen, RN, WCC, Arjo Clinical Consultant, to discuss medical beds and fall prevention. Bob has served in the Navy and has worked in CVICU, ER, Trauma, Neuro Interventional, Burn/Hyperbaric ICU, and more recently worked as a Flight Nurse. He has a passion for wound care and patient safety, and works closely with hospital staff and educators to help establish a safe environment for both healthcare staff and patients.
What is the definition of a hospital fall and how prevalent are they?
A hospital fall is an event that results in a person coming to rest inadvertently on the ground, floor, or other lower level.1 The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality notes that falls occur at a rate of 3–5 per 1000 bed-days and estimates that 700,000 to 1 million hospitalized patients fall each year.2 A fall may result in severe injuries including fractures, lacerations or internal bleeding, leading to increased health care utilization. Research shows that close to one-third of falls can be prevented.3
What type of approach is needed to reduce the risk of patient falls and improve safety?
Falls in hospitals can lead to serious injuries and even the most, well-designed plans can be ineffective if they are not implemented properly. Monitoring systems are not the only answer. Interventions addressing falls require an individualized and patient-centered approach that meets each patient’s needs.
What can healthcare providers do to minimize the occurrence of patient falls?
Fall prevention involves managing a patient's underlying fall risk factors and optimizing the hospital's physical design and environment. There are many factors to consider when dealing with patient falls. A hospital bed is central to daily patient care and should be designed to provide a safe environment for patient care, where rest and recuperation should be both safe and therapeutic.
One option is to encourage the use of bed frames with under bed lighting and that lower further to the ground than regular hospital beds. With hospital staffing being stretched more so these days, it’s important to recognize bed platforms that offer bed exit alarms and a universal platform in order for bed training to be minimized for staff. Another option is to minimize hospital room clutter and move items needed by the patient close to the bed so the patient can reach. Hospital staff should be rounding on patients every 2 hours; it’s at that time staff should offer water, toileting and food, if appropriate. All of these activities may help to decrease the incidence of patient falls.
Are there bed features that may help staff minimize the potential for patient falls?
Yes, there are several that may help staff minimize patient fall risk. There are specialty beds with seat deflation that allow the patient to sit on a firmer surface for stability, making it easier for the patient to exit the bed. There are also specialty beds that can tilt the patient to 83° so that the patient can exit the bed while standing. There are also bed safety components, such as “SafeSet”, a visual alert system that indicates whether the bed is in a low position, all wheel casters locked with a single pedal pushed, four side rails up and locked, and the bed exit alarm activated. This feature is a very helpful aid for staff to quickly identify if the bed is in a safe condition. There are also side rail enablers that can be placed to allow the patient a secure hand-hold while standing or repositioning.
Where can we learn more about Arjo’s solutions that help prevent falls and enhance patient/caregiver safety?
Visit Arjo to learn more about our wide range of clinical solutions, including our medical beds and patient handling portfolio that offer enhanced ergonomics, comfort, safety, and promote effective risk management.
References:
- World Health Organization. Falls. April 26, 2021. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/falls.
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. PSNet. Patient Safety Primer: Falls. September 7, 2019. https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primer/falls.
- Preventing Falls in Hospitals. Content last reviewed March 2021. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/settings/hospital/fall-prevention/toolkit/index.html.