As You Spring Ahead, Take a Look at Your Fall Prevention Program! While you're doing spring cleaning around your facility, why not take a few minutes to ensure that it's free of fall hazards, such as these cited in tag F-323?1 Chairs or beds that are too low or unstable Exposed extension cords Insufficient lighting (or too much lighting, which can cause glare) Loose hand rails Unstable or slippery floor surfaces Obstacles in hallways Low or loose toilet seats Defective or non-functioning beds Assistive devices and equipment that are defective or not used properly Spilled liquids Of course, this is just a jumping off point and you should look at your own facility environment with a critical eye. In addition to removing hazards, it's also important to have a comprehensive fall prevention plan that meets the following goals: Acknowledges the high-risk nature of your population and setting Utilizes a reporting system that does not place blame on staff members for reporting resident risks and environmental hazards Involves all staff in helping identify solutions to ensure a safe resident environment Makes resources available to address safety concerns Demonstrates a commitment to safety at all levels of the organization Reference Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. State Operations Manual. Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities. Rev. 70, 01-07-11. Join Us for This Week's Tour of The Perfect Survey! This Thursday, March 15, we'll be hosting our monthly online tour of Compliance Solutions: For the Perfect Survey Every Day. There's still time for you to join us! During this webinar, our Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Compliance, Pam West, will guide you through the contents of our exclusive online survey preparation tool, including: The actual forms that surveyors use Guidance broken down by F tag and care area Exclusive tips from industry veterans Case studies to address how you would handle specific challenges in your own facility The webinar will be held from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CST. To register, click on the link on the left. C.diff  Rates Skyrocket A new report from the CDC shows that Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, has reached unacceptably high rates. Between 1999 and 2000, only 3,000 C. diff-related deaths were reported. That figure climbed to 14,000 between 2006 and 2007. C. diff  is particularly worrisome for long-term care. Seventy-five percent of facility-acquired cases first show up in nursing homes and more than 90 percent of deaths occur in people 65 and older. The CDC recommends taking the following six steps to halt the spread of C. diff  in your facility: Prescribe and use antibiotics carefully. About 50 percent of antibiotics that are prescribed are not needed, raising the risk of C. diff  infections. Test for C. diff  when residents have diarrhea while on antibiotics or within several months of taking them. Immediately isolate residents with C. diff. Wear gloves and gowns when treating residents with C. diff.  Keep in mind that hand sanitizer does not kill C. diff  and handwashing might not be sufficient. Clean room surfaces with bleach or another EPA-approved, spore-killing disinfectant. If the ill resident is transferred, notify the new facility that the resident has C. diff. To read the CDC report, click here. Landing Strip™ Floor Mat with Nite-Glo™ Border Our Compliance® Solution, the Landing Strip™ floor mat is unusually thin, surprisingly firm and incredibly effective. Its innovative design has protected countless nursing home residents from fall-related injuries. The Landing Strip is designed to remain alongside your resident's bed day and night to guard against injury should a fall occur. With the addition of the Landing Strip Nite-Glo™, the border of the mat stands out, even in a dimly lit room, announcing its presence to both residents and staff. Additional Features: Only 1 inch thick with tapered-to-the-floor edging Prevents tripping and permits carts, chairs, beds and tables to roll over easily Contains a blend of ultra-high-density core foams Heavy-duty vinyl cover is bonded to provide greater impact distribution Helps transfer the force of a falling resident into and across the surface Non-slip vinyl base prevents slipping away from the bedside Sealed construction Wipes clean to protect appearance and performance Product pricing is only visible to registered promedsupply.com customers. If you are not yet registered, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 and our Customer Care Professionals will be happy to get you set up.