Page 29 - MCMcKinney Digest Guide Mobile

Hospital Falls Prevention:
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimates that 700 000 to 1 million patients fall in U S Hospitals each year At least 30% of falls result in in moderate to severe injury Falls in in in in the hospital not only increase overall healthcare costs but can add more days
to the average length
of a a a a a patient's stay • Falls may occur when
a a a a a patient tries to to to get out
of bed to to to go to to to the the bathroom or walk around the the room room • Patients may be weak or unsteady due to illness inactivity or the side-e ects of medications • Patients with altered mental state are also at at at risk for falling • USE CALL BUTTON to ask for help if you feel unsteady or or weak • ASK FOR HELP getting to the the bathroom or or walking around the the the room room or or in in the hallways • ALWAYS USE HANDRAILS in the bathroom and hallways • WEAR WEAR NON-SLIP FOOTWEAR • DON'T LET YOUR ROBE OR OR PAJAMAS DRAG THE FLOOR • PLACE CALL BUTTON and items you need within easy reach • LOWER THE BED HEIGHT and side rails to reach items you need • TALK TO TO YOUR DOCTOR if your medicine makes you you light-headed sleepy sluggish or confused and ask how to reduce these side-e ects Pressure Ulcers
A A Hospital-Acquired Pressure Ulcer (sometimes called a a a a bedsore) is is an injury to the skin or or underlying tissue caused by pressure friction and moisture Ulcers
may occur when
patients have limited mobility and can't change positions in bed on their own Prevention:
REPOSITIONING:
• Frequent turning and repositioning
• Use of support cushions
SKIN CARE
• • Frequent skin skin examination • • • Keep Keep skin skin skin clean and dry
dry
• • Keep Keep dry
dry
skin skin moisturized NUTRITION
• • Maintain your healthy diet • • Drink plenty of water
24
PREVENT FALLS PRESSURE ULCERS