Editing Infection Control and Safety (section)

=== After a fall ===

'''Assess the patient before moving them.''' Check level of consciousness, vital signs, pain, and for deformity, shortening or external rotation of a leg suggesting hip fracture, and head injury. Perform neurologic checks if the head was struck, the fall was unwitnessed, or the patient takes anticoagulants. Notify the provider and the family per policy, treat injuries, and reassess the fall prevention plan. Document objectively what was found, what the patient said, the assessment, and the actions taken. An '''incident or occurrence report is an internal quality document''': complete it, but do not chart in the medical record that one was filed and do not place a copy in the chart.