paddingtongreen

I spent a week until Tuesday evening in the hospital with an emphysema flare up and/or pneumonia.The first thing they do is put on a "Fall Risk" wrist band. Were not to stand unless there is a nurse or tech there.

While I understand this, a large part of the accidents in hospitals are from falls, it seems to me that it makes the patient less able to move from one to the other safely after they leave because of the loss of practice when they leave.

I'm 78 and they are going to load me up with steroids, so I'm not surprised when they do it initially but I get angry when I get Physical Therapy to evaluate me as not needing any.

I may just write a hypothetical case to them and see what answer I get.

I practice the art in hospital regardless because back in the sixties, my boss didn't, he got up in the night, lost his balance and fatally broke his bonce.

Lion in Winter

So what happens if they catch you standing up without permission? Detention?

md95065

Your dead body is found in a hospital stairwell two weeks later ...

paddingtongreen

The beds are old, mechanical/electrical, but of really good design. Believe it or not, there is a noisy alarm that can be set, and some nurses set them. I have an old prostate that demands that I stand, I set the alarms off several times getting up for a pee. It annoyed the other patients but they still waited till I was asleep and set them again.

Lion in Winter

I think you should while away the hours working out how to tamper with those alarms....

lansbury

Just keep getting out of bed during the night. They will soon get fed up with everyone being disturbed by the sirens going off.

scrubbedexpat097

FIFY

Oh and M had one of those wrist bands as well and we got the lecture when he got back into bed after sitting in a chair without a nurse helping him

WEBlue

I agree, one or the other or both. Fight their stupid "system". Idiots.

Bet you're glad to be home .

Sally Redux

I guess they have to cover themselves against litigation if someone falls.

Casual Observer

When you say "getting your arse covered" does this imply that they are allowing you to wear pyjamas as opposed to those gowns that are open at the back?

Ozzidoc

Deprivation of rights/liberties?

Effectively being held against ones will?

I'd be outraged!

Gordon Barlow

Yes indeed, Sally! US hospitals - and doctors of all kinds - are scared witless of being sued for tens of millions for the slightest injury. Even besides the money aspect, they (hospitals and their administrators) HATE dealing with the insurance companies. Faced with a huge bill for treatment, a friend of mine offered to pay in cash; suddenly, the bill was reduced by 70%.

paddingtongreen

Oh, such irony, it hurts

My only real point is that they are trying to prevent something they should encourage. The translation from lying to sitting to standing is compromised when not used, especially when ones muscles are being melted away by an over abundance of Solu-Medrol. Body changes and lack of practice make it more likely that one should fall after leaving.

jeffreyhy

Better after leaving than before, from their point of view. Two reasons come to mind:
- the fallee will be suing someone else for the fall, and
- there will be a repeat customer.

Regards, JEff

DebzinUS

Insurance companies, including Medicare will not pay for any hospital acquired illness or injury. So if you fall, and break a hip, the surgery and anything related to that fall then the hospital eats the cost.