Falls and Patient related falls & fall-associated injuries continue to add to the cost of healthcare across the United States.
To prevent their occurrence, acute care providers have traditionally assigned individual bedsitters to provide in-room support and monitoring for at-risk patients. But because of ongoing budget cuts and staffing shortages, many facilities have found that this approach is no longer sustainable.
For that reason, a growing number have begun replacing at least some in-room bedsitters with virtual sitter video monitoring systems that allow a single remote observer to monitor multiple at-risk patients simultaneously.
According to the U.S. Agency on Healthcare Research and Quality, between 700,000 and 1 million in-patients fall while hospitalized every year. Roughly 30% to 50% of those incidents result in fall-related injuries, including bone fractures, subdural hematoma, and severe bleeding.
Up to 20,000 patients die annually due to complications associated with an in-hospital fall.
Treating fall-related injuries costs U.S. hospitals around $14,000 per fall. And because Medicare no longer provides reimbursement for this care, the costs associated with falls and fall-related injuries can quickly add up to a significant unbudgeted expense for an already struggling facility.
Patients fall for many reasons. Some have dementia or neurological problems that make them more likely to fall, even when they're moving about with staff assistance. Others fall because of behavior issues that cause them to act out. In some cases, environmental factors, such as slippery floors or electrical cords and other obstructions – will cause even low-risk patients to fall in the hospital.
Whatever the reason, healthcare facilities are required to take steps to mitigate risks and reduce the likelihood of falls and fall-related injuries. For decades, in-room bedsitters have been assigned to prevent falls and other adverse events among high-risk patients. In such a case, a patient attempting to leave their bed would be redirected by their sitter, who could also alert nursing staff when necessary. Bedsitters are also trained to respond to patient needs by following specific hospital protocols. For example, a sitter might verbally respond to a disoriented patient, answering their questions and providing reassurance.
Improvements in telehealth technology have helped hospitals expand access in rural areas, address a growing physician shortage, improve workflows, and achieve cost efficiencies. Those same technologies have also made virtual sitter video monitoring systems a viable approach to fall prevention.
Virtual sitter systems also include an alarm that allows the observer to notify nursing staff when a patient requires help. Some can even be configured to provide remote control of in-room medical and monitoring devices. The system documents all alerts, and every incident and behavioral change are noted in each patient’s chart to ensure effective communication across the entire care team.
Hospitals that have transitioned to virtual sitter video monitoring have reported very encouraging results. For example, Northern Westchester Hospital in upstate New York reduced in-patient falls by 54% once its telesitter program was up and running.
TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston, Texas, saw a 9% reduction in falls and a 51%
It is essential to understand that, despite their numerous advantages, virtual sitters can’t replace standard safety practices, such as providing non-slip socks, proper lighting, and ensuring patient belongings are kept within their reach. Neither are these systems appropriate for every patient. For example, the Cincinnati VA Hospital has continued to utilize in-room bedsitters to monitor certain patients ---those considered homicidal, who have known suicide risks, or who are hard-of-hearing -- even after implementing a very successful video monitoring program for other at-risk individuals.
First Products is ready to partner with your team to ensure the success of its virtual sitter video monitoring program. From telesitter carts and mounts like the TeleView™️ 2-way telemonitoring cart to tablet roll stands, our perfect-fit solutions are designed to make the most of today’s digital healthcare revolution.
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