Accident Documentation: Skin Tears During Patient Transfer - A Guide

1. Incident Report

* Complete an incident report form immediately after the accident occurs.

* The incident report should include the following information:

* Date and time of the accident

* Location of the accident

* Names of the resident involved and any witnesses

* Description of the accident

* Any injuries that occurred

* Actions taken to address the accident

2. Medical Record Documentation

* The resident's medical record should be updated to include the following information:

* Description of the accident and any injuries

* Treatment provided

* Follow-up care instructions

3. Photographs

* Take photographs of the accident scene and any injuries.

* These photographs can be used to document the accident and help determine how it occurred.

4. Witness Statements

* Obtain statements from any witnesses to the accident.

* These statements can help to corroborate the resident's account of what happened.

5. Expert Testimony

* In some cases, it may be necessary to obtain expert testimony from a healthcare professional to help determine how the accident occurred.

* This testimony can be used to support the resident's claim for damages.