KENNESAW, GA / ACCESSWIRE / November 29, 2024 / Falls are often a big issue in skilled nursing facilities. They can result in loss of independence and injury among residents, and it can also cause liability issues for your facility as well as issues with quality ratings and Medicare reimbursement. In today's article, we'll discuss how a fall prevention restorative program through BenCura can help both your residents and your facility.

What happens in a fall prevention program?

When you work with BenCura, and we are able to implement restorative programming such as falls prevention, our approach is multi-faceted. We know how damaging falls and injuries can be for both residents and the facility they live in, and so we approach this issue from many angles. We work to create a multi-disciplinary falls committee to investigate the causes of falls in your facility, which can range from crowded rooms to design issues to changes in function for the patient and much more. Once the common causes of falls are identified, this committee will then work on implementing the changes needed to reduce these falls, educate all staff members on proper protocols in fall prevention, and in-stating fall prevention policies and procedures. Additionally, because residents' functional ability often plays a key issue, we will also work on occupational therapy with residents who are identified as a fall risk or potential fall risk.

How does a fall prevention program help hospital patients?

No one likes to stay in the hospital any longer than they have to, but when a patient falls, it can prolong their stay. Additionally, it can lead to more injuries or issues that need to be addressed that were not the reason they were admitted into the hospital. This can be frustrating for the patient, their family, and staff.

How does a fall prevention program help my hospital?

Preventing patients from falling is great for patients and their families, but it's also important for your hospital. When a patient has a preventable fall, insurance companies, particularly Medicare, will not pay for treatments related to that falls. This means your hospital is now responsible for the costs associated with that fall and subsequent injury, and this can really add up. Additionally, if falls are happening frequently and leading to patient injuries, this can negatively impact your reputation and standing within the community, which can certainly harm the utilization of your hospital in the future.

How does a fall prevention program help SNF residents?

No one likes to fall and injure themselves, but it can often be hard for many skilled nursing residents to give up their independence. With fall prevention, they can maintain (or regain in some cases) their independence and still lower their risk of injury. This obviously helps them in a physical capacity in many ways, but it's also great for their mental health and can even impact their ability to socialize with other residents.

How can a fall prevention program help my skilled nursing facility?

When you are able to lower the rate of falls in your facility, it won't just benefit residents and their loved ones, it will also make a huge impact on your facility. Lower risk of falls and injuries means less liabilities for your facility, and improved quality of life for residents can improve your facility's reputation and overall standing in the community. It can also help your facility pass state inspections and reduce incidents of declining function. Additionally, restorative programming like fall prevention can impact fee-for-service Medicare reimbursements. When paired with some of the other restorative programming BenCura can offer your facility, it can increase the amount of money you can get in Medicare reimbursements, and you don't want to leave money on the table.

BenCura offers a variety of restorative programming for SNFs including:

• Pulmonary Rehab

• Contracture Management

• ADL Retraining

• Seating and Positioning

• Walk and Dine

• Dysphagia Management

• Falls Prevention

This kind of programming can not only help your residents have a better quality of life and maintain their independence for as long as possible, it can also help your facility take advantage of Medicare reimbursements. When you partner with BenCura to offer restorative programming, we can work with your staff on how to code restorative minutes and how to make the most of these programs. To learn more, schedule a free discovery call with us here: https://bencura.com/contact/.

BenCura Rehabilitation Services is a premier contract rehabilitation service committed to providing quality care to patients. BenCura partners with acute care and critical access hospitals and skilled nursing facilities to provide high quality physical, speech, and occupational therapy at a lower cost than traditional in-house models. For more information about BenCura Rehabilitation Services and our partnership with hospitals and long-term care facilities, please visit: bencura.com.

CONTACT:

855-423-6287
info@bencura.com

SOURCE: BenCura Rehabilitation Services