RUBY RED SOCKS

Kathryn Wallace CNS Chronic and Complex Care FWLHD

Jayne Langran CNC Chronic and Complex Care FWLHD

WHAT ARE THEY?

They are double

sided, slip

resistant

sock, that has

been clinically

proven to

reduce falls

Why did we decide to implement?

• It is estimated that one third of people over 65, and

half of the people over 80 years of age, will

experience at least one fall per year.

• In Australian 38% of all hospital patient incidents

involves a fall.

Founder of the Ruby Red Socks

Falls Prevention Program

• The “Ruby Red Socks Falls Prevention Program” was

developed and implemented at St. Vincent's and

Mercury Private hospital, Victoria, in 2014.

• In response to the success of this pilot program, and

the growing issues of falls in all Australian hospitals,

the FWLHS adopted and launched the “Ruby Red

Sock, Falls Prevention Program” in December 2015.

Video

Aim of Ruby Red Socks Falls

Prevention Program

To help prevent falls and the severity of falls by:

• Ensuring that all FWLHD patients that are assessed to be a high falls risk, be supplied with a non-slip socks as an alternate, if the patient does not have, or cannot wear safe non-slip footwear

• Ruby red socks are a bright and visual alert to all staff, families, and visitors that the patient is at risk of falling, so that appropriate supervision and care can be taken

Falling may:

• prolong a patients hospital stay, and or recovery period

• Falling may cause SEVERE injury, and even death

Patients at high risk of injury are:

• Confused and elderly

• Patients with Osteoporosis

• Patients on blood thinners such as Warfarin/Plavix

Common factors that can influence falls:

• Furniture, equipment and ward layout

• Deterioration in general health e.g. Delirium

• Change in medications including pain analgesia

• Whether the patient is safe to walk and carry out day

to day activities of daily living.

Who did we educate ? How did we

educate them?

• The program was launched throughout the FWLHD

in December 2015.

• The target focus group was ward staff, with the main

focus on Medical Ward, Surgical Ward and Sub-Acute

Rehabilitation, though ongoing training, awareness,

and education by the FWLHD Falls Prevention

Working Party members.

How do we educate our staff?

Information for Staff

The Ruby Red Socks Fall

Prevention Program is a highly

visible and memorable way to try

and prevent our patients from

falling.

Ruby Red Socks:

Are a visual way to remind patients

they need assistance or supervision

when walking

Are a bright, visual warning to staff

and visitors that the patient is at risk

of falling, so that appropriate care

can be taken.

Falls Facts

Falling may prolong a patient’s

hospital stay or recovery period.

Falling may cause severe injury

especially if a patient:

Has a condition such as osteoporosis

(a disease in which the bones

become extremely weak or fragile)

Takes a blood thinning agent such as

Warfarin or Plavix.

Common factors that can

influence a fall:

Furniture, equipment and ward

layout.

Deterioration in General health eg

Delirium

Change in Medications, including

pain analgesia.

Whether the patient is safe to walk

and carry out day to day activities on

their own

Fall Risk Assessment

All patients to have a falls risk

assessment on admission or within

24 hours of admission.

How to reduce the risk of falling:

Patients to wear supportive flat, non-

slip shoes or Ruby Red Socks.

Ensure that a CALL BELL is within

reach and patients are instructed in

the use of same.

Inform patients and carers about the

risk of falls, and falls prevention

strategies.

Criteria for patients to wear Ruby

Red Socks:

Non slip socks to be offered as an

alternative if patient does not or

cannot wear safe footwear, especially

High Fall Risks and CHOPs patients.

Patients are to be supplied two pairs

– one to wear and one to be washed.

If patient has a shuffling gait, the

patient may require Occupational

Therapy or Physiotherapy referral for

further assessment.

Care and Maintenance:

Non slip socks are for individual

patient use only.

Hand wash non slip socks in warm

water using a mild detergent.

Air dry out of direct sunlight.

Replace the Non Slip Socks when

the tread on the sole is peeling or

wearing off

Acknowledgement: St

Vincent’s Private Hospital

How do we educate our patients ?

How do we inform our community ?

• Promotional and awareness foyer days

• Media coverage of planned events

• Displays on quality boards and information screens

• Ruby Red Sock Patient information Brochures

• Education and information was attended at the:

- Dementia and Carer group

- Carer support group at the HACC centre

Ruby Red Socks, Falls Prevention,

awareness day (even Santa prefers red socks)

Ongoing community engagement (Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation 2016)

BHBH Kiosk Involvement

As always the local Broken Hill

Hospital Kiosk has been very

supportive:

They have commenced selling the

socks for carers and patients to

purchase.

This has meant that they are available

at the hospital, making them easy

and accessible at a reasonable price

for patients and family to access

How are we travelling?

Implementation December 2015

What's next

• 2017 – two foyer promotional awareness days

• Ongoing education and awareness throughout

hospital of both staff and patients

• Ongoing education and awareness throughout the

community and district

• Auditing of program

New patient promotional material.

STAY ON YOUR FEET

Stephen Bradbury

Won Olympic Gold by

simply “Staying on his Feet”

This program is helping patients

stay on their feet for optimal

recovery

Questions?