CARE OF VULNERABLE PATIENT

                                            

 

                                                CARE OF VULNERABLE PATIENT

                      

Policy:

The hospital ensures that vulnerable patients (elderly, physically and / or mentally challenged and children) are protected from abuse, which we define as a violation of an individual’s human or civil rights by any other person or persons. A coordinated approach is used to manage any reported instance or suspicion of abuse against vulnerable patients admitted to the hospital.

 

Hospital has a sensitive, multi professional approach in dealing with disclosures of abuse or possible abuse. This is aimed to

•      Protect the vulnerable patients from abuse

•      Respond quickly and sensitively to any incident or suspected case of abuse to enable joint working of hospital personnel with external services when necessary.

 

Safe and Secure environment for vulnerable patient

•      To ensure a safe environment for all vulnerable patients the hospital trains all staff members to be sensitive to such matters.

•      Providing anti slip mats in the bathrooms and other surfaces that may need them physically ensures a safe and secure environment and providing beds with guard rails are available and used when the need arises.

•      Documented procedures are available for restraining patient safely if the need is felt.

•      Provision of facilities and on-site inspections to the vulnerable group of patients such that they are safe from abuse, are ensured by the management.

 

Informed consent

•      Informed consent shall be taken as per informed consent policy

 

Training of the staff

Each department related with patient care shall include ‘care of vulnerable patient as a topic in their departmental training programme. Staff should be trained for care of vulnerable patients with respect to

•      Understanding and recognizing vulnerable patients

•      Principles of staged, step down care

•      Moving and handling of vulnerable patients.

•      Training in prevention and management of falls, unconscious patients, supervised feeding, decubitus ulceration (its prevention and care), interacting with caretakers for continued care.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Procedure to follow in case of abuse of vulnerable patient

S. No.	Procedural steps	Responsibility
1.	When a case of abuse of a vulnerable patient is suspected or disclosed, the main consideration is the protection of the vulnerable patient.	All hospital staff
2.	When such an event occur the senior member of the nursing team on duty is immediately informed. She / He will then inform the primary consultant. The concerns are documented in the medical records by the first person to report the abuse.	First person identifying the abuse / senior member of nursing staff
3.	The nursing head, Clinical consultant and Medical administrator form the investigating team. The medical administrator decides whether social services or the police need to be informed.	Medical administrator / primary consultant
4.	A detailed investigation is carried out.	Team
5.	If the vulnerable adult is judged to be mentally competent, he can reject offers of assistance and refuse intervention.	Team
6.	If the investigating team cannot resolve the situation, appropriate social services are informed and a multi agency meeting is convened to resolve the issue.	Medical administrator
7.	All these proceedings to be recorded and maintained by medical administrator	Medical administrator