Risk factors correlating event falling to eventual medico-legal responsibility

Introduction. Falls within the hospital environment constitute a severe problem and induce a notable negative impact upon the patients. They may lead to an increased morbidity and/or mortality with an extended period at the hospital. Aims. Analyze, through the description of a sample of extrinsic risk factors correlating event falling to eventual medico-legal responsibility. Methods and Materials. The retrospective study used data derived from a total of 131 patients (60[%] males and 40[%], females) who were obtained from the Unit of Complex Operations (U.O.C.), and Emergency Unit and Short-term Intensive Observation ( O.B.I.), from the Polyclinic of the Tor Vergata . A questionnaire/record was designed that registered the patients' characteristics and falling-accident circumstances. The questionnaire-register was completed by nursing staff who performed a falls risk assessment using the Conley scale. Results. Falling-accidents occurred in the patients room in 60[%] of the cases, in 21[%] of the hospital staff were present, and the patient's bed was locked in the safety position in 64[%] . Disscussion. The present study revealed that the use of the safety rail occurred in 58[%] of the falling-accident cases and it important to observe that in 36[%] of the cases the patients fell during his/her attempt to leave the bed, or stepping down from the stretcher or climbing up the bedsides. The safety rails are useful measures for risk prevention but only acted upon after careful each patient's preliminary assessment . Indeed, they could expose patients to additional risks in an attempt to step over.