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When bed rails are used, perform an on-going assessment of the patient's physical and mental status; closely monitor
high-risk patients. Consider the following:
•
Lower one or more sections of the bed rail, such as the foot rail.
•
Use a proper size mattress or mattress with raised foam edges to prevent patients from being trapped between the
mattress and rail.
•
Reduce the gaps between the mattress and side rails.
Which Ways of Reducing Risks are Best?
A process that requires ongoing patient evaluation and monitoring will result in optimizing bed safety. Many patients
go through a period of adjustment to become comfortable with new options. Patients and their families should talk to
their health care planning team to find out which options are best for them.
Patient or Family Concerns About Bed Rail Use
If patients or family ask about using bed rails, health care providers should:
•
Encourage patients or family to talk to their health care planning team to determine whether or not bed rails are
indicated.
•
Reassure patients and their families that in many cases the patient can sleep safely without bed rails.
•
Reassess the need for using bed rails on a frequent, regular basis.
To report an adverse event or medical device problem, please call FDA's MedWatch Reporting Program at
1-800-FDA-1088.
For additional copies of the brochure, see the FDA's website at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/beds/
For more information about this brochure, contact Beryl Goldman at 610-335-1280 or by e-mail at
bgoldman@kendaloutreach.org. She has volunteered to answer questions.
For information regarding a specific hospital bed, contact the bed manufacturer directly.
Developed by the Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup
Participating Organizations:
•
AARP
•
ABA Tort and Insurance Practice Section
•
American Association of Homes and
•
Services for the Aging
•
American Health Care Association
•
American Medical Directors Association
•
American Nurses Association
•
American Society for Healthcare
•
Engineering of the American
•
Hospital Association
•
American Society for Healthcare Risk
•
Management
•
Basic American Metal Products
•
Beverly Enterprises, Inc.
•
Care Providers of Minnesota
•
Carroll Healthcare
•
DePaul College of Law
Updated January 2008
Part No 1143214
•
ECRI
•
Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society
•
Hill-Rom Co., Inc.
•
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations
•
Medical Devices Bureau, Health Canada
•
National Association for Home Care
•
National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home
Reform
•
National Patient Safety Foundation
•
RN+ Systems
•
Stryker Medical
•
Sunrise Medical, Inc.
•
The Jewish Home and Hospital
•
Untie the Elderly, The Kendal Corporation
•
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
9
ICCI Bed Rails and Accessories
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