Nursing

California hospital fights falls

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, January 12, 2007

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Knowing how painful-and expensive-patient falls can be, Watsonville (CA) Community Hospital has created a program to keep people on their feet.

Upon entering the hospital, a patient is assessed on his or her fall probability based on a number of factors. Then, a green sign is posted on each room where it's likely that someone will need extra care. Those patients are typically kept closer to the nurse stations for convenience. As an added measure, an alarm system-linked to a pad under the patient-goes off every time someone who may need extra attention gets out of bed.

Thus far, the program has been a success, reducing falls by as much as 60%, according to hospital administrators.

Source: Santa Cruz (CA) Sentinel



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