Hutchinson Regional Medical Center is using Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 4 – March 10, to kick-off an awareness campaign to emphasize the prevention of falls in the home as well as within a healthcare setting or long-term care facility.

“Falls are dangerous and sometimes even deadly,” said Robyn Chadwick, vice president of quality at Hutchinson Regional. “In 2011, 62 percent of our trauma admissions involved injuries related to a fall. Of the eight deaths occurring in trauma patients, all but one patient died as a result of low-level fall, meaning they were standing, in bed, or in a chair when they fell.”

Representatives from Hutchinson Regional, Hospice and HomeCare of Reno County and area long-term care facilities are organizing a regional collaborative to address ways to prevent falls and educate staff, patients, and patients’ family members on how to avoid falling. In the hospital setting, patients are urged to “Call, don’t fall” meaning they’re instructed to use their call button for staff assistance rather than trying to get up on their own.

Preventing falls at home is an important component to the collaborative education efforts. Dr. Scott Clarke, chair of Trauma Service at Hutchinson Regional, will present a free presentation open to the community on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, on how to prevent falls at home and things you can do (or avoid) to maintain your balance and stay on your feet. Clarke’s presentation will begin at 5:30 p-m, in the Pavilion building east of the hospital.