Photo By Douglas Stutz | The ‘Mask Up, Heads Up, Don’t Trip, Don’t Fall’ patient safety and fall...... read more read more
Mask-wearing has helped limit the spread of COVID-19.
Face-coverings are still required as part of strict infection prevention measures for all staff, patients and visitors in military hospitals and clinics.
Yet wearing a mask has also caused – unintentionally – aggravation for some, annoyance for others and actual safety-related issues for a few.
Naval Hospital Bremerton staff want to ensure all patients and visitors are mindful of the potential risk of trips and falls, and Catherine M. Udasco-Dunn, Quality Management Department healthcare risk manager is leading this effort.
The ‘Mask Up, Heads Up, Don’t Trip, Don’t Fall’ patient safety and fall prevention campaign is underway at NHB, based on high reliability organizational principles of speaking up to identify risks to individual safety.
Root cause analyses conducted after falls at healthcare facilities around the Military Health System shows that some of the contributing indicators of actual falls and near-misses are related to masks which have fogged eye-glasses, limited peripheral vision, and obscured foot placement/stride length. When considering risk, it is also important to factor in physical characteristics such as age-related vison changes, diminished reflexes, and wearing multifocal lens.
Udasco-Dunn affirms that there are practical steps that everyone can take to limit the risk of tripping or falling.
• Check that your mask fits snugly to reduce any visual impairment.
• Slow down and take measured steps. Slowing down will give more time to see what’s in front and if there are any trip hazards.
• Keep eyes focused on where you are going.
• Keep your eye-glasses clear of fog.
“Protecting patients against COVID-19 is a primary concern. However the risk of falls with use of facial coverings should not be overlooked when prioritizing patient safety and health,” commented Lt. Courtney C. Rafferty, Optometrist assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness Training Unit Everett, acknowledging that, “between spectacle fogging and inferior peripheral visual impairment even for those who do not wear glasses, face masks, especially those poorly fitted, can increase fall risk, especially in populations with a high risk.”
Rafferty cited several published studies which asserted that improved mask fit can help cut down on potential fall and trip risks, along with not compensating for peripheral vision loss by looking down which can lead to imbalance, limited ability to identify upcoming obstacles, and destabilize head and eye movement(s).
“Recommendations include looking straight ahead while walking more slowly, and improving mask fit around the nose and cheeks to minimize inferior field of vision,” Rafferty said.
Falls are a common cause of injury, both within and outside of a health care setting. It is estimated that more than one-third of adults over 65 fall each year.
Patients may be at increased risk of falls if: they have impaired memory; they have muscle weakness; they are older than 60; they use a cane or walker; they are on certain medication.
Statistical evidence notes that patient falls are the largest single category of reported incidents in hospitals which affect up to 10 percent of admissions. It’s also estimated that 29 to 48 percent of patient falls result in injury, with four to 7.5 percent resulting in serious injury.
Some of NHB’s overall collaborative goals are to increase awareness and train staff in fall awareness; educate patients and family about fall prevention; identify high risk patients and place them on precautionary fall risk observation; and instruct the staff to take responsibility for patient’s fall risk.
Trips and falls can happen to anyone. Someone is at risk if they have or have had:
History of falls
Impaired vision
Taking certain medications
Using a walker, cane or crutches
Dizzy, unbalanced, unsteady
“Falls are an inherent safety risk, especially with our elderly patient population. We take falls very seriously. Even reminding people be aware of their surroundings, to slow down and look ahead,” said Ms. Mayda Schaefer, QM patient safety analyst, noting that there are also practical measures to consider in preventing falls outside the hospital, specifically at home.
Is there enough light?
Are hallways, common walking areas clear?
Are floors and stairs uncluttered?
Are there special needs in place, such as dressing aids, commode accessibility/raised toilet, and ensuring the bathtub and shower are slip proof?
Is there a reachable telephone by bed, living areas and kitchen, or is a cell phone carried at all times, along with a handy list of emergency numbers nearby?
Consider asking someone to look in on you – or someone you are concerned about – daily or get an emergency alert system.
Install special lights, buttons, or dials if sight or hearing impaired.
| Date Taken: | 05.27.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 05.27.2021 11:44 |
| Story ID: | 397571 |
| Location: | BREMERTON , WA, US |
| Web Views: | 67 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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