The problem of patients slipping and falling at hospitals is widespread and no secret to medical staff and administrators at hospitals in Florida. Yet, with understaffing and the rush to see as many patients as possible, hospitals fail to make fall prevention a top priority. Unfortunately, innocent patients risk suffering serious injuries like traumatic brain injury, hip fractures, back injuries, and spinal cord damage when they slip and fall. Even worse, seniors are at most risk of falling and can face life-altering changes in their health and quality of life—or even die from complications from their injuries.
Did Your Hospital Follow These Safety Practices?
Many slip and fall accidents at hospitals could be prevented if hospitals implemented practices that have been recommended to solve this problem. Ways to prevent falls include:
- Assessing fall risks. Hospital staff needs to assess patients’ risk of falling due to their medical conditions and medications when they are admitted to the hospital and during their hospital stay. In addition, nurses, doctors, and other medical care providers should review the fall risks for each patient on the unit at the beginning of each shift.
- Educating patients. A patient’s fall risk should be written in color on the dry-easel or other information board in most hospital rooms along with precautions the patient should take. In addition, hospital staff should educate patients in basics like how to use the nurse call button to encourage them to call for help rather than try to get out of bed on their own.
- Using bed-exit alarms. Bed-exit alarms should be used for patients who fail to follow instructions to call for help when getting out of bed. When they are being used, staff must be vigilant in resetting them.
- Providing sufficient staffing. Hospitals must have enough nurses and medical assistants on staff to regularly monitor fall-risk patients and assist them with their basic needs like going to the restroom. When floors are understaffed, patients are more likely to get out of bed on their own if they cannot wait for staff assistance.
- Cleaning up spills promptly. Spilled water, food, and other liquids must be cleaned up promptly to prevent unsuspecting patients from falling on floors that are already slippery from all the cleaning that must be done in a hospital.
Was your fall in the hospital caused by staff failing to follow these practices or being otherwise negligent? Fill out our online form or call our experienced legal team at (727) 345-4566 to schedule a free consultation.