Transcript for:
MD Anderson Patient Safety Strategies

At MD Anderson, your safety is our priority. In this video, we will share ways you can stay safe throughout treatment. All patients are at risk of falling.

A fall may cause a serious injury such as a broken bone or a head injury. A fall could delay your cancer treatment or even cause your death. We want you to call, don't fall. No matter what treatment you receive, you need to be careful to avoid falling. Your disease or the side effects of treatment may make you feel weak, tired, confused, or dizzy.

If your blood counts are low, your risk of falling and injuring yourself increases. Falls can happen more often if you are taking chemotherapy, cellular therapy, or certain medicines. You are at an increased risk of falling if you have received sedation during a procedure, had surgery, spent an extended amount of time in bed, or have conditions that affect your mobility. For example, Damaged nerves in your feet can cause prickling, burning, or a numb sensation, which can make it hard to balance.

If you have a history of falls or general weakness, or if you have a fear of falling, you need to use caution when moving around your hospital room or your home. Your age may also increase your risk of falling. Low blood pressure and decreased nutrition or dehydration can also increase your risk of falling.

Certain medicines for pain or nausea could affect your balance or strength. Side effects of steroids, allergy medications like Benadryl, and diuretics or water pills may also increase your risk of falling. You might need to hurry to the restroom more often because of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Or you may need to use the bathroom more often because of certain medicines and IV fluids. These urgent conditions can increase your risks of falls. We want you and your family to stay safe in your hospital room.

This photo shows what your room may look like. You can see that the furniture and the equipment are very different from your home. Because it is unfamiliar to you, you may be at an increased risk of falling.

Use the call light for help any time you need to get out of bed. Tell your nurse what you need so they will know to come quickly. Please wait for the staff to come to your room for assistance before attempting to get up.

There are things in your room that could cause you to fall, like furniture, your IV pole and tubes, uneven floors, different floor surfaces, and inadequate lighting. Remember that wet and cluttered floors can cause you to fall. Always ask a staff member to call housekeeping to clean up any spills.

Lymphoma cancer survivor Bob Brzezinski had several close calls while he was a patient. My name is Bob Brzezinski. I'm a lymphoma cancer survivor.

I had a very close call, two or three of them, actually. It could have been very bad. My chemo was going well, and it made me feel better.

And that perhaps led to an overconfidence of myself and my ability to walk around on the floor. Once I started stumbling, I realized two things. Perhaps my shoe choice wasn't very good. And second, maybe I wasn't picking my feet up as much.

You're walking around with a chemo pole and... it's attached to a central venous catheter in your chest. If I fall, that could have came out.

Could have broke a nose, a hip, whatever. It could have been very catastrophic. It's really critical to listen to the nurses.

They're there for our safety. Now's not the time to be embarrassed as a patient about toileting and having the nurses help us. You know, we have to kind of swallow our pride sometimes, but that's the price for being safe. And that's really what it's all about. I was very grateful for the nurses explaining to me about going from a lying position to a sitting position.

I had issues at home prior to being hospitalized with lightheadedness and dizziness. So that was a life lesson for me. All of us know someone that fell and spent a lot of time in the hospital with a broken hip or what have you.

It's simple to prevent that. We just have to take action to do it. Our priority is to keep you safe.

You can take action to prevent falls when you call, don't fall. Always call for help anytime you need to get up or go to the bathroom. Your care team can provide you with extra support when you need to get out of bed. Even if your family member or caregiver are in the room, it's always best to call your care team for help. While you are in the hospital, your nursing team will review fall prevention information with you and come into your room often to check on you.

We will also make sure your call light, phone, glasses, tissues, and water pitcher are within reach. Use the bedside commode if you need to go in a hurry or feel weak. Call your nurse when getting up to use the bedside commode or the bathroom toilet.

For your safety, we will stay close by and help during your toileting tasks. Call the nurse again after you are done using the restroom to help you get back in bed. You should also call your nurse when you need to get up or sit down from the bedside chair in your room.

You should never use your IV pole as a support to help you walk. Your IV pole is heavy and could tip over. It could also become unstable as you move from one floor surface to another, such as when you enter the bathroom.

Be careful with your IV line because it can get caught around things in your room. Wear non-skid shoes or socks when you are out of bed. Wear proper fitting shoes. Make sure they are not too big.

Loose fitting shoes can cause you to drag your feet, which could make you trip. Don't wear croc-like shoes, sandals, or backless shoes. Don't walk around your room only wearing your TED hose. The hose worn without shoes or socks are slippery and can cause you to fall. While you are an inpatient, You should also turn on the lights in the room or bathroom when you are out of bed.

This will help you see where you are going. Use a shower chair or bench when showering. Use the grab bars in the bathroom.

Wear your glasses or contacts so you can see clearly. Sit in a chair when taking off or putting on your pants. Depending on your needs, you may also meet with a member of the rehab team.

if requested by your medical team. The physical therapist and or occupational therapist will determine if you need to use an assistive device like a walker or cane. They will show you how to use it properly. If your nursing team has identified you as being at high risk for falling, they will explain your personal risk factors. Follow these practices to keep you safe.

You will be given a yellow bracelet to wear on your wrist. A gait belt will be used when you are out of bed, Walking or moving to the toilet. A gait belt helps provide extra support if you start to fall. It is important for the belt to be positioned low and snug to your waist.

By keeping a hand on the belt and walking beside or behind you, we can help prevent a fall and serious injury. The nurse will take additional safety measures to keep you safe. A bed alarm and chair alarm will be used for your safety.

An alarm will sound when you try to get out of bed or stand up from a chair. To keep this from happening, always call for assistance when you need to get up. Many falls occur during toileting tasks. Call for help anytime you need to use the toilet or bedside commode. For your safety, we will stay close by and help during your toileting tasks.

We will do our best to maintain your privacy. So let's do a quick review. You may be at a high risk of falling, and a fall can result in a serious injury, including death.

Your risk of falling can change at any moment. Even if you are walking on your own before coming into the hospital for treatment, you need to call for help anytime you need to get up. Remember, to stay safe and help prevent falls, Always call your care team for help anytime you get up, even if your family or caregiver is in the room. Talk with your nurse about your needs.

Use the call light. Use the bedside commode. Wear non-skid shoes or socks. Turn on the lights in your room. Remember, to stay safe and help prevent falls, wear your glasses or contacts or hearing aids.

Use the installed grab bars and shower chair in the bathroom. Use the assistive device approved by your care team. For your safety, your care team will provide you with a bedside commode. Use a gait belt. Use an assistive device to help you walk.

Activate the bed alarm, chair alarm, and or toilet alarm as indicated. We recommend these practices to keep you safe while you are in the hospital. If you decline our recommendations, the care team will discuss them with you further. Your safety is our top priority.

Always remember how important it is to call, don't fall.