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?