Aesthetic Day Surgery works with patients and carers to reduce the incidence of patient falls and to minimise harm from falls for patients in care.
All patients are assessed to ensure that a patient’s falls risk is recognised promptly, and appropriate action is taken. The assessment is designed with older people in mind but may apply to younger people at increased risk of falling, such as those with a history of falls, neurological conditions, cognitive problems, depression, visual impairment or other medical conditions leading to an alteration in functional ability.
All patients who require post-anaesthetic care and post-procedure mobilisation are discharged in a wheelchair to their transport with their carer.
It is important that you, your family and staff all work together to reduce the risk of falls by:
- Wearing supportive, flat, non-slip shoes or slippers
- Bringing your walking frame or stick, glasses and hearing aids to the day surgery
- Listening to advice and recommendations of staff – recovering from surgery takes time, and you might need more help than you realise
- After surgery, walking and staying active when family and friends are with you to help
Aesthetic Day Surgery falls prevention program includes:
- Assessment of all patients for risk of falls and the potential to be harmed from falls
- Prevention strategies are developed for patients at risk of falls
- Regular staff education
- Patients, families and carers are informed of the identified risks from falls and are engaged in the development of a falls prevention plan
- Reporting, investigating and monitoring of falls incidents
- Quality improvement activities are undertaken to prevent falls and patient harm
