Ric

You did the right thing. According to JACHO, low beds are an alternative to restraints, BUT if the resident/patient falls onto the mats IT IS A REPORTABLE FALL. The mats are to help reduce the impact and hopefully prevent injury. Unfortunately, many patients want to retain as much control as they can, and low beds are great in helping patients that have low centers of gravity and have been found to reduce falls.

LTAC's can not use conscious sedation per hospital mandate. Of course, JACHO does give us an out to use restraints. Assessment, reassessment, reassessment, reassessment, reassessment, and on and on...This issue will be the last one addressed by our facility. Policies are being reviewed in an attempt to prioritize the patient's safety and lead, in a prioritized manner, to the ultimate conclusion that restraints are the best way to ensure the safety of the patient. The problem is that it's kinda hard to come up with "alternatives" for vent patients! Along with this we are going to a modified team nursing practice with a staffing matrix increase! I may have to pull a team member for these patients. Don't want to but I may have no choice.

Working in a LTAC (Long term acute care) facility has pros and cons. We are currently looking at attempting to go restraint free! The research has been studied and the laws have been read. What I want to know is what are y'all doing for ventilator patients that CAN NOT be sedated? Most of our patients are admitted straight from other CCU/ICU facilities, with LOS about 25 days. Suggestions, PLEASE!!!!