Had the incident not been documented as thoroughly or had incident reports not been filled out, it might have been a different story. It was the clear and concise charting of the nursing homes staff's handling of the incidents that saved the facility from a potentially costly lawsuit and trial. As long as efforts were documented in the notes to notify the family, the facility was covered. In this case it was not. To minimize suspicions of impropriety it is suggested that when a family member is contacted, the name and phone number also be documented .
All evidence is subject to interpretation.
This can be applied to physician notification as well. If the name of the physician is noted, the guesswork is removed and accountability easier to establish. It is common for patients to fall on their way to or from the bathroom. If you are working in a nursing home, you need to be aware that you are responsible for documenting adequate care. You are equally responsible for prevention.