According to an Inside Medical Liability article I recently read, an endoscopy center left a discharged patient who was in a wheelchair unattended while she was waiting for a ride home. The patient fell asleep, fell out of the chair and became injured.

Posted in Risk Management on Friday, July 13, 2018

According to an Inside Medical Liability article I recently read, an endoscopy center left a discharged patient who was in a wheelchair unattended while she was waiting for a ride home. The patient fell asleep, fell out of the chair and became injured. 

Wheelchair accidents are common, and more often than not, completely avoidable. Avoid a lawsuit or allegations of neglect by establishing appropriate policies and protocols for your office. At a minimum, they should reference the following:

• Staff training on how to safely use wheelchairs
• Patient training on how to safely use wheelchairs
• Instructions for employees to stay with patients until they’re released to a designated family member or representative
• Instructions to lock any wheelchair on both sides when not in motion 

Not sure how to handle a situation? Worried about a patient safety issue? Contact us at 1-800-640-6504 or learn more.