Reduced Use of Physical and Chemical Restraints Reduced Use of Physical and Chemical Restraints Patient falls and the use of restraints in the NHCU have been reviewed and monitored by the Nursing and Medicine Services since activation of the program in 1988. Our data revealed that the use of restraints did not prevent falls or injuries associated with falls. An interdisciplinary task force was established including nursing, psychology, medicine, pharmacy, social work and a nursing consultant from the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing. The outcome of the task force was the development of a restraint policy delineating guidelines and protocols to follow when considering physical or chemical restraints for patients.
Nurses perform indepth assessments and interventions prior to the use of physical restraints.
The guidelines for the use of chemical restraints were developed from Medicare and Medicaid requirements for Long-term Care facilities. Benefits Outcomes include no change or a slight reduction in the number of falls, a decrease in the number of injuries associated with falls, a decrease in the use of physical and chemical restraints and more clinically appropriate use of psychotropic medications.