Patient Safety Consulting Services

Bernstein & Associates, Architects works with health care institutions to maximize patient safety through thoughtful planning, design and details. Amongst the patient safety programs we have pioneered are :

Psychiatric Safety Audits:

Our team of psychiatric design experts has completed (30) ?Psychiatric Patient Safety Audits?, for facilities in (12) states. These audits are often performed after there has been a patient incident in a hospital or psychiatric institution, but it is always recommended that facilities housing psychiatric patients be pro-active, and procure this patient-safety focused audit before there is a patient incident.  Our ?Psychiatric Patient Safety Audits? includes a basic checklist of (68) psychiatric patient-safety focused items but it expands and contracts depending on the type and combinations of patient populations and whether it is private, public, freestanding or part of a med/surg facility.  The number of variables that need to be considered vary widely with the nature and culture of the organization as well as the age, diagnosis, medical issues and many other aspects of the patients themselves. 

Bed Safety Assessment Programs :

In March 2006, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a report entitled: "Hospital Bed System Dimensional and Assessment Guidance to Reduce Entrapment".

The report addresses potential injuries and fatalities resulting from patients in a health care setting becoming entrapped in hospital beds. Over a period of 21 years (through January of this year), the FDA received 691 entrapment reports, in which 413 people died, 120 were injured and 158 were near-miss events with no serious injury as a result of intervention.

The report notes that entrapment events have occurred in "openings within the bed rails, between the bed rails and mattresses, under bed rails, between split rails, and between the bed rails and head or foot boards".

Not all patients are equally vulnerable. The report cites the population most vulnerable to entrapment as :
"elderly patients and residents, especially those who are frail, confused, restless, or who have uncontrolled body movement."

Entrapments occurred in a variety of patient care settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and private homes.

The report provides details on potential zones of entrapment, as well as minimum dimensions to prevent entrapment.

*Bernstein & Assoc., Architects* has reviewed this report in detail, and can provide "Bed Safety Assessment Programs" to health care institutions looking to prevent patient entrapment in hospital beds. Please contact our office for further details.

Psychiatric Facility Design Services:-  

-   Hospital Bed Safety Assesment Programs
-   Patient Safety Assessment Programs
-   Psychiatric Patient Safety Audits