Healthcare Facilities are Eliminating Fall Alarms
The question over the effectiveness of fall alarms in healthcare settings have been an ongoing debate. However, recently, healthcare facilities are forgoing alarms and other methods on the theory that they can give both patients and staff a false sense of security.
Early results have displayed little improvement, the Oakwood facility has reported going from four falls at the facility in January 2016 to three in June as the facility neared total elimination of alarms. Even with little results, there are many other benefits for both the patient and staff. Without alarms, staff are forced to round more frequently and focus on efforts to prevent falls rather than being notified after they happen. As for patients, "The fall alarm may not physically restrain the patient, but it tells them that they should stay where they are or an alarm will sound. If they comply with that, or if you’re using restraints or chemical restraints like sedatives, they get less mobile with time and the risk of falling increases." said The John A Hartford Foundation, Senior Program Officer Marcus Escobedo. Without fall alarms, Patients will be more likely to walk, increasing their mobility and ultimately reducing their risk of falling.
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