Island Health

8 Island Health magazine ENHANCING PATIENT SAFETY: FALL PREVENTION STRATEGIES Falls are one of the most common causes of preventable injuries in hos- pitals, but good design can help reduce the risk—especially in patient rooms and washrooms. "Patient falls can lead to injury for both the individual and the staff who care for them and are known to more than double the patient's length of stay in hospital," says Corry Pettigrew, clinical team manager for the CDH Replacement Project. "Falls impact patients, staff, their families, and the healthcare system overall." To address this, the new hospital incorporates evidence-based design elements that aim to reduce falls by 50 percent. These include providing clear- ance on both sides of toilets to allow staff to assist patients, positioning fix- tures to minimize turning movements, and providing clear, visible pathways between patient beds and the wash- room to reduce tripping hazards and promote independence. When the new Cowichan District Hospital opens in 2027, design decisions made today will ensure it provides the safest possible care to the growing population of the Cowichan Valley while also ensuring the safety of staff. With a building three times the size of the existing facility, the CDH Replacement Project Nuts'a'maat Alliance has been collaborating with program staff and using evidence-based design research to tackle persistent healthcare challenges. Safer Care through Evidence-Based Design cowichan district hospital replacement project Left to right Corry Pettigrew, clinical team manager, Adriana Ezelyk, infection prevention and control manager, Melinda Lobo, healthcare planner and associate, Parkin Architects

• Cover