Low beds, falls and incident reports...

Specialties Geriatric

Published

OK, I've got a question. If a resident is found on the matt on the floor by his bed, assuming the bed is in the lowest position, do you all make out an incident report? We've been told two stories by two different people and that is as long as he/she is on the matt and the bed is in the lowest position that no report is necessary. Then we've been told that whenever a resident is found on the floor it is considered a fall, hence a report. Ok ladies and gents, which one is it? I'm thinking incident report anyway just to CYA.

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If the patient started out in the bed, and the mat is lower than the bed, I'd still call it a fall. Doesn't matter if the bed is in the lowest position or not.

If you were in your own bed, and rolled out onto a mat, wouldn't you say "I fell out of bed last night."

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If the patient started out in the bed, and the mat is lower than the bed, I'd still call it a fall. Doesn't matter if the bed is in the lowest position or not.

If you were in your own bed, and rolled out onto a mat, wouldn't you say "I fell out of bed last night."

I agree it is a fall. Even when a bed is in its lowest position it is still pretty high for someone to fall out of. especially an elderly or ped.

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I do not have a MDS in front of me but if you read the definition I believe it will clarify the definition of a fall for you. We always count a roll out of a low bed to a mat as a fall. One time I remember a resident that rolled to the mat and actually fractured her wrist. So injuries can occur. Better safe than sorry but of course your fall numbers will suck. Our numbers have improved by placing a body pillow under the fitted sheet to create a soft edge to remind the resident to not go any further.

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Thank you all for your replies. I just love this place and how your fuzzy questions :uhoh3: can bring out such clarity in the end. :) Thanks again.

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We basically define a fall as a patient landing anywhere other than where intended. So, yes, a fall to a mat would be counted as a fall......hopefully one without injury since a mat was used! :) Also, if someone is lowered gently to the floor, it's still a fall, if someone goes down mid transfer and lands safely on your leg (lol, I'm sure it's happened!) it's still a fall. Does your hospital/facility have a fall prevention committee? If it doesn't, and if you have time, offer to get one going!! You can come up with fall specific paperwork, a definition for "fall" so that all of your staff is on the same page with what exactly will constitute a fall in your facility, and come up with ideas to prevent them. I can tell you that quarterly fall reports are a BIG help!! That's what our committe does...and since the reports include things like location of fall, where the call bell was, whether the patient used the call light, and whether or not they were on 'fall risk' precautions, we can see where are problem areas lie. For example, leaving patients on high risk precautions....people that need chair/bed alarms, etc.....in the bathroom ALONE was a BIG problem!! It's since been remedied. Good luck!! :)

P.S. Can you tell I HATE the thought of falls?? LOL Sorry it's so long! :)

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Agree...it's a fall. We had a woman trip the other night...the CNA caught her and she didn't hit the floor. I say it's NOT a fall. The MDS nurse says it is, because if no one else had been there she would have fallen!! Yikes. We did an incident report because the woman complained of ankle pain, but still...no fall.

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Yes, a fall!!! Being MDS Coordinator we code all found on blue mats, lowered to floor and such as falls. CYA!!!

You'll never get in trouble for filling out an incident report, it's when you don't, that you will get in trouble.

Good question!!!! :D

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MDS....we have 2 patients who have VERY low beds, as in on the floor, d/t the patients attempting to crawl out of bed. We have a mat on either side. How would you rate this?

I think these are pretty decent beds.....basically PVC headboard/footboard, soft mattress....

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MDS....we have 2 patients who have VERY low beds, as in on the floor, d/t the patients attempting to crawl out of bed. We have a mat on either side. How would you rate this?

I think these are pretty decent beds.....basically PVC headboard/footboard, soft mattress....

I like to use a bed alarm on these folks

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MDS....we have 2 patients who have VERY low beds, as in on the floor, d/t the patients attempting to crawl out of bed. We have a mat on either side. How would you rate this?

I think these are pretty decent beds.....basically PVC headboard/footboard, soft mattress....

Hey Suebird3,

ALL found on blue mats are a fall...We also have low beds /c blue mats on the floor. On the A&I classified as "found on blue mat". On the MDS fall in the past 30 days.

We do also put lip mattresses on these people. But as far as the MDS goes, fall......

Does anybody else do this???

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Agree...it's a fall. We had a woman trip the other night...the CNA caught her and she didn't hit the floor. I say it's NOT a fall. The MDS nurse says it is, because if no one else had been there she would have fallen!! Yikes. We did an incident report because the woman complained of ankle pain, but still...no fall.

Hey CapeCodMermaid,

I totally disagree with this call. If the resident was "caught" and lowered to the floor, that would be a fall. If the resident was "caught" and assisted to a W/C or bed then no, that wasn't a fall.

I think if we started doing A&I's on everything that would of happened "because nobody was there" we would all be doing nothing but paperwork. That's ridiculous....

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