Safety & Medical Examiner Cases
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END OF LIFE SYMPTOMS SAFETY Falls are very common with confused and/or weak patients. At Elizabeth House, we utilize several modalities to prevent falls. These can include bed alarms, fall mats, bed positioning, video monitoring and increased round- ing. To safely move patients, staff utilize special socks or footwear, medical equipment to help you or your loved one move with assistance, or lifts to help prevent falls and injury. If you are worried about you or your loved one falling, please discuss with your care team. Oxygen use can be necessary and helpful, but comes with some risks and dangers when used inappropriately. It is critical that no one smokes, vapes or uses an open flame around oxygen. If you or your loved one is on oxygen and would like to go outside to smoke, please speak with your care team so the appropriate steps can be taken to avoid injury.
MEDICAL EXAMINER CASES When someone has experienced a fall, accident or other incident that may contribute to the cause of death, the Medical Examiner (ME) must be informed when that person dies. It is a legal process that Four Seasons is required to report and does not mean that there was any wrongdoing on behalf of any patient or caregivers! Falls and accidents can happen no matter how vigilant caregivers are. What does this mean for me or my loved one? • A staff member will likely ask you information about the timeline of events to help the ME decide how to proceed • After death, if the ME does not request to see the patient, the funeral home will be called • If the ME does request to see the patient, the patient will be sent to the local hospital. When the ME com- pletes their examination, the funeral home will be called and the patient will be transported there. It is very rare that the ME will request an autopsy.
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