You may have noticed new signs are being installed across Western Health wards as part of a strategy included in the Falls Improvement Plan 2021-2022 to improve orientation for patients that are sensory impaired and improve communication of risks.
The package includes:
- Toilet and shower signs for the outside of all patient bathroom doors.
- Small yellow signs for next to patient buzzer in toilet and showers.
- Purple magnet board for above patient bed next to bed card. This is designed to be visible, easy to access and easy to read from the end of the bed.
The multidisciplinary team are encouraged to place signage above bed as needed to improve patient safety and communication from shift to shift and between the team.
There are 9 magnets currently available to use
- Nil By Mouth
- Diabetic
- Vision Impaired
- Hearing Impaired
- Fluid Restriction
- Red Dome
- Interpreter Required
- PVM (Portable Video Monitoring)
- Blank white magnet that you can use to write specific information if required.
Some ideas to assist with implementation include ensuring you are completing bedside handover and ceasing group handovers of all patients to all staff. Bedside handover is a crucial element to improving communication between staff. Use bedside handover as an opportunity to ensure that relevant alert signs are in place.
Please ensure that the magnets are removed when patients are discharged home, wiped down with Clinnell wipes and returned to storage containers.