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Hospital bed side rails restraint7/24/2023 In 2002, research was published that exposed the dangers of hospital and nursing home bed rails that was cited by the then JCAHO - a sentinel alert about bed-rail entrapment. They created the first Guide for Modifying Bed Systems, which expanded to full scale program evaluation systems, bed purchasing guidance, and quality monitoring programs released in 2006, updated in 2017. ![]() Their goal was to provide guidance specific to improving the safety of hospital beds for patients in all healthcare settings who are most vulnerable for entrapment. Members of my VISN 8 Patient Safety Center participated. In April 1999, after the release of the bed entrapment sentinel alert, the FDA convened the first national Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup comprised of federal agencies, healthcare organizations, and patient advocacy groups. But first, let’s reflect on evidence that impacted bed rail use in healthcare settings. A Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup of 26 organizations participated in the development of this guidance. This guidance should help all organizations to evaluate policies and procedures specific to safe bedrail use. I share this brochure with you, in hopes that you will share this widely, because this brochure should inform all providers, administrators, and quality administrators about the balance of benefits versus risks when using bed rails. In 2017, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) provided a national guidance brochure on bed rail use in hospitals, nursing homes, and home health care - yes, across the continuum of care. ![]() ![]() Of interest, every couple of months, I receive a question about use of side rails - bed safety rails related to fall-prevention in differing settings of care. My commitment has been and will always be to help you as much as I can. I am always delighted to receive questions about fall prevention practices, resources, and even opinions.
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