The home quickly moved to correct the situation, administrator Paul Barber said. Now, only 12 residents in the 104-bed home use rails. We explain we have to attempt every less-restrictive measure prior to using bed rails. We're trying to be proactive. For Ted Schmidt, administrator at the St. Paul home, removing restraints from nursing homes is a crusade that goes beyond safety issues.
Restraints get in the way of that.
The push to remove bed rails in Minnesota began in the mid-1990s when state regulators urged nursing homes to find alternatives for patients frequently caught in bed rails. Injuries quickly rose. Families of residents leaned on lawmakers to rein in regulators, while nursing homes fretted over potential lawsuits. The result, however, was a statewide dialogue on bed rails that raised awareness about their dangers. Last spring, Minnesota's Legislature passed a measure that requires families to be advised on the pros and cons of bed rails if they request them for their loved ones.