by Paul MankinHow hospitals should familiarize patients with the environment to prevent slip and fall injuries?
As many people know, slip and fall cases can be quite a nasty detail. If it is on someone else’s property, the property owner may look for any way to disregard the event and not have to pay out. In terms of the victim, they may seek financial aid due to ensuing injuries they may have sustained through the slip and fall case that was seen as caused by the property owner.
This is especially true within a hospital setting, where accidents may be a bit more prone to occurring due to the nature of the visitors and patients that are often there. As such, it is imperative that hospitals and hospital staff look to properly safeguard themselves against these types of slips and falls, and work to prevent them from happening in the first place.
What is a common Slip and Fall Case?
Slip and fall incidents are fairly common within the workplaces. Whether you work within an office building, a warehouse, or in the open fields or marketplaces, danger is always present. Unintended accidents and unlooked after problems may result in you being subjected to dangerous situations.
Slip and fall incidents occur when these dangerous situations are not taken care of in an impromptu manner. If someone that either working or visiting the building happens to trip, slip, or become unbalanced and injured due to this hazard, it would be classified as a slip and fall case.
Difference in a Hospital Slip and Fall?
Although this can be said to be the same for any incident involving a slip and fall in any facility owned by someone, a slip and fall within a hospital or medical facility can be extremely dangerous. This is because most residents or visitors to hospitals are already vulnerable and somewhat fragile to begin with. The most prominent type of person that would be prone to a slip and fall would be an in-patient resident who needs to stay overnight at a hospital. They may be in for a short-term or long-term care process, and would be a bit more susceptible to a crack or split in the walking surface.
There is also a specific type of slip and fall case that is not seen in most regular workplaces. These are the slips and falls caused by a misdiagnosis or malpractice on a doctor’s part. These can be especially dangerous, as they are often done in a somewhat understood manner. If a patient or visiting patient is diagnosed improperly, and given many types of medicines that may cause drowsiness and unstable walking, while they are already unstable to begin with, this can lead to much higher rates of a potential slip and fall case.
A medical slip and fall can also occur when a patient has improper care facilities around them, depending on their level of co-dependency and symptoms. For instance, if a patient is misdiagnosed, and seen as more fit than they are, nursing staff may see it fit to not leave proper walking ambulators for the patient to use. This may result in a slip and fall case, which would be seen as the staff’s fault.
Steps to Prevent Slip and Fall injuries
Preventing a slip and fall incident can be a matter of life or death in some cases. As a slip and fall can lead to traumatic brain injuries and permanent fractures, it is important that hospitals properly warn and assist patients in navigating their way around the facility that may be their home for the next few days or weeks. Here are just some ways that hospital staff would be able to do this.
Thorough review of facility map
When a patient first is introduced to the facility, it is helpful that the patient be fully introduced to the rooms and building quadrants that they may be making their way around to. For this reason, having a floor map available for them can allow them to not get lost and end up in an unnecessary area. Walk the patients through the main facility rooms that they will need, such as restrooms and examination rooms. Let them know where there are uneven surfaces, and map out specific routes for them to take
Properly point out any immediate or short-term issues
If a mishap occurs, and a portion of the facility is broken or slightly damaged, notify all patients and visitors immediately. If some tiles have become unrooted from the floor, or there is a massive crack in the sidewalk, informing patients quickly will help them avoid that particular hazard while it is taken care of by hospital staff. A secondary measure would be to properly erect any physical signs necessary to deter patients from entering the hazard area.
Give a slight tour of the facility
If possible, it may be helpful to physically guide patients through the facility for a short period. This would entail having a staff member walk them through the pathways that they would need, such as the routes to the restrooms and exam rooms. Physically walking them would ensure that they have traversed that route, and not have to walk it blindly for the first time, as that would increase te risk of a possible slip and fall case.
by Paul MankinHow do hospitals help prevent patient slip and fall injuries by placing a hospital bed in the appropriate position?
Being at the center of a slip and fall case is never an easy situation. On the one hand, many feel as though it will be partially their own fault and that they should have been able to prevent it. On the other, they may feel that the facility in question is to blame, yet have no way to prove it.
Slips and falls in hospitals are an extreme case at points. However, they do occur, and should be prevented. A patient should not have to worry about a chance at slipping when they are a patient at a hospital simply attempting to get out of their bed, should they? Here are essential practices to help prevent possible slips and falls from occurring through appropriate hospital bed positioning and management.
What is a Slip and Fall?
In most cases, a slip and fall occurs when a person, worker, or a visitor slips and falls on the premises of a facility or area owned by another. A case of a slip and fall will usually appear if the person that fell sustained minor to major injuries, and must be taken care of through a hospital, or need treatment of some sort.
Slip and fall cases are generally seen within workplaces, such as a warehouse or office space. However, they do have a chance of occurring within hospitals, as well as other medical facilities. These slips and falls can be due to numerous reasons, such as a patient being physically and mentally unstable during their stay, or a minor error in diagnosis, leaving them in a vulnerable state. In most cases, though, a patient that is injured in a slip and fall incident will look to claim for damages and injuries sustained on the hospital grounds.
Slips and Falls due to Hospital Beds
One such reason a slip and fall may occur is due to hospital bed positioning, and improper usage of the hospital beds. Hospital beds are extremely common in hospitals, as they are used for patient comfort and safety. Usually well-designed, these beds come with many functions that allow them to be used to either move the patient quickly and efficiently, as well as be stable for patients to move or shift around on.
The dangers of a hospital bed slip and fall can be disastrous, however. Since the hospital beds are slightly raised off the ground, normally by a few feet, it can create a potential hazard for the patient if they were to roll off, or if not dismounting the bed properly.
There are also dangers with the bed if the staff and other members of the hospital do not take adequate care of the beds. This may result in an accident occurring in the heat of the moment, or due to a lapse in judgement on a staff member’s part.
Prevention of slip and fall injuries through Appropriate Positioning
To help prevent slips and falls from occurring with hospital beds, it is important to work on proper positioning and stabilization of the beds when in use, as well as out of use. As they are essential in the care process with a patient, here are some ways to improve a patient’s quality of life, as well as decrease the likelihood of a slip and fall occurring.
Routine inspections of Beds
The first step to decrease risk is to ensure that the beds are of sound quality, and in proper condition. Inspecting beds on a regular basis, perhaps daily or weekly, will allow staff and workers to find any possible weak points or flaws in a bed that could create a hazard later on down the road. Ensuring that a bed does not have unstable handrails, or that a bed’s electronic rotating/moving parts are fully functional, can prevent issues from occurring long-term.
Tailor Positions to the Patient and Activity
Depending on what the patient is doing, it is important to adjust accordingly. If the patient is about to go to sleep, maybe a full parallel to the ground is necessary, or a minor incline of the upper body is necessary. If the patient is up and attempting to be a bit more active, it may be important to leave the bed at a 40 degree incline to assist the patient in seeing and looking around.
Lowering or raising the bed is also a priority. If the patient is on the shorter side, lowering the bed to a manageable height will help to reduce anxiety for the patient. This will also allow them to be more independent without the risk of injury. The same can be said for those on the taller side as well. Proper bed height positioning can ease the burden off of a possible accident.
Lock Bed when In the Room
If the bed is not being moved or pushed to and from the room, it is important to lock and stabilize the legs. A shifting bed, at any point, can be seen as a hazard, as patients are likely to shift the bed if they attempt to get up or get out. Making a habit of locking the wheels when the bed will be stationed within the room for an extended period of time ensures that the patient will have a stable footing to push against if they do attempt to get up and about. It will also prevent any collateral damage from occurring, as the beds may collide and crash into other objects within the room if not secured properly.
by Paul MankinHospital Slip and Falls are “Never Events”
Hospital accidents can happen without warning, and in many different scenarios and situations. Having these situations befall you as a possible patient can lead to severe harm, especially if you are in a current frail state physically. These events can ride the fine line of a potential legal claim, with a simple accident extending your hospital stay.
One such type of hospital accident is known as a “Slip and Fall” event. These can be dangerous for multiple reasons, both physically and legally. With how easily they can occur, as well as how seemingly simple and unrelated they can be, you may find yourself victim to such an event any time you visit a hospital. If you are caught in a Slip and Fall event, it is important to know how to defend yourself and gain proper compensation for the accident.
What is a Slip and Fall?
So, what exactly is a Hospital Slip and Fall accident? True to the name, it is an accident that occurs when someone that is in the hospital slips within the hospital grounds, and injures themselves. This can be due to any number of reasons, from the floor being slick from just being mopped, to remnants of dropped hospital equipment by an unaware nurse. No matter the reason, it is still a slip and fall accident.
These can have serious effects depending on the situation. They can range from simple bruises and scratches, to full blown broken bones, neck and back injuries, or even brain injuries that may require extensive help and recovery.
Who can get Injured?
Although it may seem like people that are current patients at the hospital in question are the only ones that are able to be considered for a Slip and Fall case, that is not the case. The injured can be someone that is a current patient at the hospital in question, someone that is at the hospital visiting a patient, or even someone that is currently there for a business meeting or gathering.
This extends to anyone, young or old. There is no age limit on a possible case of a slip and fall injury.
Difference in Cases
Depending on what your status is with the hospital, different case types may arise. The status of which you are in at a hospital are positions such as visitor or patient. For instance, if you are simply a visitor at the hospital, and you were to happen to slip and fall, you would have a chance at claiming negligence by the hospital. For these to be given thought, the person injured by the fall would need to prove that the fall was indeed due to negligence on the side of the hospital. Some examples of negligence would be a spill in the hallway not being properly cleaned, or an unsecured piece of wiring that was not reported to staff.
A patient may also be eligible for a negligence claim if the slip and fall was due to the hospital’s problems and lack of attentiveness. However, there may also be the possibility of a malpractice claim if the fall was due to improper care by the medical staff at the hospital. Some examples of this scenario would be a misdiagnosis of a problem that leads to a lack of proper medical equipment being provided, or cases of multiple medications being improperly prescribed which, when taken at the same time, can lead to dizziness or unsteadiness on their feet. If the development can be linked to any improper medical diagnosis by medical staff, then there is potential for a malpractice lawsuit to be claimed.
Hospital Rebuttals and a “Never Event”
Even if you have a Slip and Fall accident at a hospital, however, there is the chance that your case may be labeled as a “Never Event”. Never Event Slip and Falls in a hospital come about when an accident occurs and there was sufficient evidence to suggest that a fall might occur. Most medical facilities will claim that there was sufficient evidence of prior knowledge that the falls were preventable and confirmed, such as adequate signs and proper warning labels in and around the hospital grounds.
Due to this, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of the United States tends to label patient falls within hospitals as “Never Events”, meaning that they should never happen if staff of the hospital follow all of the fall risk protocols and other such precautionary steps.
Why is this Important?
The importance of understanding the definition of a “Never Event” can be the deciding factor in whether or not a fall in a hospital results in a claim of negligence against the hospital, or if a malpractice claim against the hospital goes through. The clue is in the wording, as understanding the definition and situations that arise for a “Never Event” to be classified can help you figure out if your case would even have leverage and proper footing to be put through to a court room.
If you feel like your slip and fall at a hospital falls under a negligence or malpractice reason, make sure to reach out and contact an experienced lawyer to assist you in your case.