foot stools, foot rests on dialysis chairs

Specialties Urology

Published

Most of the dialysis chairs have a foot rest/foot stool that can be pulled out for patients to place their feet on e.g. the bottom of patient's feet are on this foot stool. This is especially great because when patients are sitting versus lying in the chair they can rest their feet on the stool if they do not reach the floor thereby preventing a patient's legs from just hanging and being uncomfortable.

Recently many FMC units removed this foot stool from the chairs. Has anyone at an FMC unit experienced this and what is the reason for removal?

I seem so unhappy at incenter hemo????????????????????????? I am advocating for patients (not a patient) who are strapped to chairs who have valid concerns..... So a few patients fall and all have to do without a stool... in all due respect to our differing opinions......don't you think that if staff were aware, or more aware, they would have stools pushed back prior to patients getting up?? That is a safety aspect that should have taken place in training.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Are you some type of employee of the regulating board of HDU's? I guess I just don't see how or why you are so interested in this since you aren't a pt or provider.

And...I've never seen a pt "strapped to a chair."

There are many options if the pts don't want or can't tolerate in-center hemo:

1. PD - at home

2. Hemo - at home thru various modalities.

3. Transplant

I'm sincerely trying to understand where you are coming from. I've never seen a "patient advocate" in any of the HDUs that I go to. There are governmental agencies that oversee HDUs and if there is a valid complaint, then of course that is where one should go.

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I am not a patient but a patient advocate

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I've always been honest about who I am, my credentials and my bias.

Can I ask the same of you? Telling me you are a "patient advocate" doesn't say anything.

The HDUs where I see pts are all locked and secure - there are no "pt advocates" wondering around. Where do you get your information? Who do you talk to?

Everyone has a bias when they post on the internet - I freely admit that my bias is that of the provider, what's yours?

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I am not a patient, just fyi.. but a patient advocate in all respects.

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Bias on part of the provider - please explain that statement. Does that mean you side with the provider?

I always wonder why one does not post their 'real' name? I would like to hear that for that is honesty through and through --(pls, do not take offense as not to mean such).

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ps my real name is not disclosed as no one else here does so.. Advocating for patients occurs when patients contact a representative to help them solve problems at their unit. If you read the dialysis survey findings you will note that there are many problems in many units. It sounds as if the units you are affiliated with are, by far, superior. Over the many years, as you know, there have been congressional hearings focused on such as misuse of Epogen, involuntary discharges, etc. Many patients are discharged and inappropriately so.. a patient advocate steps in to help them. Many patients have suffered injuries due to untrained technicians, etc. I am sorry that you have not seen those units that delivery substandard care, but, believe me, they are out there. Patients advocates, as myself, get involved in state and federal legislative issues surrounding dialysis care, including but not limited to the new prospective payment system and prior newly revised Conditions. You are very, very fortunate to have not ever experienced a dialysis setting where patients receive substandard care. There are many problems and not all units delivery quality safe care. And, as you know, even the providers have identified problems that result in harm, including death e.g. not following physician orders, negative outcomes as a result of such, just for an example. In review of hundreds of facility surveys I found most infractions related to infection control, reuse, incorrect implementation of MD orders e.g. BFR. I hope this clarifies. I work with patients individually who have problems in units. Again, you are so very lucky to have never experienced that which occurs that affects patients negatively.

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UPDATE: Rumor has it that those FMC units, that have not yet removed their foot platforms from the chairs , will suspend with removing these.I now wonder if FMC realized there is more potential danger with nothing for the patient to rest their feet on...

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The footrests in our area will be removed by technical ASAP according to the latest memo. Each unit will have to purchase "portable" foot stools for staff to tote around for each pt to use to get into their chair. I don't believe that they will be used for pts to rest their feet on since we will only be getting one or two of them for the whole unit. The entire issue makes zero sense & corporate just need let the footrests alone. I'm not privy to all the details of the accident that occurred to make this come about, but my guess would be that if there had been adequate staff (that was not rushed) the incident may have been prevented.

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The footrests in our area will be removed by technical ASAP according to the latest memo. Each unit will have to purchase "portable" foot stools for staff to tote around for each pt to use to get into their chair. I don't believe that they will be used for pts to rest their feet on since we will only be getting one or two of them for the whole unit. The entire issue makes zero sense & corporate just need let the footrests alone. I'm not privy to all the details of the accident that occurred to make this come about, but my guess would be that if there had been adequate staff (that was not rushed) the incident may have been prevented.

Indeed, this is utterly ridiculous. There are patients who prefer to sit during dialysis versus lying back in their recliner. Hence, their feet will be dangling which could result in circulation problems as well as poor body support. And, what about patients who hold their site -- they, too, will be having their legs dangle. Many nurses also use these foot platforms when patients have leg cramps. I am not sure why FMC made this decision as, for many, we believe that this will be more potentially dangerous. So, let's take yet another example -- time consumption - FMC wants patients in and out, let's rotate them quickly. If there are only a couple of stools per unit, and there are 5 or more patients coming off at the same time - this holds up a quick turn around time. We will not know the exact details of the injuries and death that occurred due to the footstool, or whose fault it was, etc., but what we do know is that patients are not the priority here. Having another piece of furniture only presents for more problems. Oh, what about those larger muscles being used when feet are dangling .. the higher usage of oxygen ??? I just find this removal to be one that was not thoroughly thought through but one that was made after a major incident took place. The bottom line, as previously stated, staff and patient education. I would love to know what state you are in....

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Am wondering if anyone at an FMC unit has an update on foot platforms or use of pillows.. does not matter what state you are in.. thank you all.

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The foot rests were removed last week & the patients do NOT like it at all. Our patients can't push themselves back in their chairs, their legs dangle and it is just uncomfortable for them. Each patient was given a memo that was written by corporate about the reasoning behind the removal of the foot rests & we have encouraged each of them to call the listed number to complain. What about the "patient rights" that CMS has indicated in the conditions for coverage?

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