Op-ed: Hospitals should consider alternatives to restraints
Patient Safety Monitor Alert, The La Crosse Tribune, La Crosse, WI, August 8, 2007
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A columnist for The La Crosse (WI) Tribune recalled her grandmother's recent visit to a hospital, where she was strapped to her bed after pulling out an endotracheal tube. Her grandmother was disoriented when she pulled the breathing tube, and was upset and confused about why her hands were tied afterward.
The columnist, Sandra McAnany, said hospitals should consider other options, such as placing volunteers or paid staff to watch disoriented patients instead of restricting the patients' mobility. The problem is especially acute for elderly patients, who face the danger of permanent loss of function when confined in a hospital.
McAnany points to the Patient Safety Helper Initiative in a Madison VA hospital as an alternative to restraints. Although the program likely means increased costs, McAnany believes the quality of life improvement is worth the extra expense.
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