Windom Area Hospital

Patient Safety

Your Safety Is Our Top Priority

When you or your family member is a patient at Windom Area Hospital, you want to be sure you receive the best and safest care possible. Our hospital and health care professionals are committed to providing the best care for you and your family. We ask you and your families to join us in making sure that our care meets your needs. We also encourage you to let us know when it does not.

Hand Hygiene Saves Lives!
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Safety

Preventing Falls

Falls are one of the leading problems facing people as they age. Many times injury from falls can lead to permanent disability, limiting a person’s active and independent lifestyle. It is estimated that one-third of all people 60 years and older, suffer falls each year. Indirectly, the fear may also be damaging. It is estimated that 20% of the elderly who fear falling limit their activities of daily living. Making simple changes to lifestyle and environment can provide peace of mind and prevent the likelihood of falling.

To keep you safe and prevent falls, patients should:

Always follow physician and nurses orders regarding assistance when getting out of bed to use the bathroom, walk or sit in a chair.
Always use the call button when you feel dizzy or weak getting out of bed.
Always wear non-skid slippers or socks when walking in the hospital.

To prevent injury from falls, staff may request family members to stay with patients who are confused or disoriented.

A list of helpful hints on preventing falls at home is also available from the nursing staff. Contact a nurse for a brochure.

Infection Control

Hand hygiene (includes hand washing with soap and water and/or use of waterless alcohol hand sanitizer) is the most important thing that can be done to prevent the spread of infections! Visitors are expected to do hand hygiene when they enter and again when they leave a patient�s room. Employees are expected to do the same, and therefore patients are encouraged to ask their healthcare provider to wash their hands before they care for them. People that have a fever, cough, rash or any disease that can be spread from person to person should not be visiting patients. Proper cough etiquette is also expected. If you have a cough, cough into your sleeve or a tissue (and they throw away the tissue). Then clean your hands.

Severe Weather

Our hospital staff is prepared to handle all types of weather emergencies. For protection during severe weather conditions:

Windows will be closed and all window coverings will be drawn shut
Do not sit or stand next to a window
Do not use the telephone, except in emergency situations
Patients will be moved to a designated shelter area, if necessary, and should not return to the patient room until instructed to do so by hospital staff

Fire

If you smell smoke or see flames, contact a nurse immediately using the call button. When a fire alarm sounds, stay where you are and wait for further instructions. Evacuation may not be necessary due to the hospital�s safety fire doors and walls. Periodic fire drills are held for safety preparedness. Drills are conducted to ensure our readiness to deal with a potential situation. Hospital personnel will instruct patients and visitors on proper protocol.

Reporting Hazardous Conditions

If you observe a condition that you feel is potentially hazardous, such as ice on outdoor walkways, malfunction of bed controls, liquid spills on floor, please report this to any hospital staff immediately.