Traffic lights systemTraffic lights systemcolouredcoloured arm arm bandsbands

Emily MorrowEmily MorrowRehabilitation PhysiotherapistRehabilitation PhysiotherapistWagga Wagga WaggaWagga Base HospitalBase Hospital

February 2008February 2008

WWBH REHAB WARDWWBH REHAB WARD

18 bed unit on the grounds of WWBH. 18 bed unit on the grounds of WWBH. The unit provides acute rehab services for The unit provides acute rehab services for Wagga and surrounding districts (Wagga and surrounding districts (egeg TumutTumut, , TumbarumbaTumbarumba, West , West WyalongWyalong, , TemoraTemora, , CootamundraCootamundra, , LeetonLeeton, , NarranderaNarrandera))Services are given by an interdisciplinary team Services are given by an interdisciplinary team which includes, speech pathology, which includes, speech pathology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, medical and 24 hour nursing care.work, medical and 24 hour nursing care.Our motto is `we are here to help you help Our motto is `we are here to help you help yourself`yourself`

AIMAIM

To aid in patient and staff understanding of a To aid in patient and staff understanding of a patientpatient’’s mobility status.s mobility status.–– Especially useful when staff frequently changeEspecially useful when staff frequently change–– Useful since patients are in various places around Useful since patients are in various places around

the rehab ward and not near notes/charts etc.the rehab ward and not near notes/charts etc.

Prevent falls.Prevent falls.Aid in patient goal setting Aid in patient goal setting and provide motivation and provide motivation to gain independence. to gain independence.

HistoryHistory

““Stepping ForwardStepping Forward”” Traffic Light system Traffic Light system developed by Maria developed by Maria HoorenmanHoorenman and and Rosalie Maher from St MargaretRosalie Maher from St Margaret’’s s Rehabilitation Hospital Inc in Adelaide.Rehabilitation Hospital Inc in Adelaide.Physio at A&R unit modified and Physio at A&R unit modified and commenced using the tool with stickers commenced using the tool with stickers above a patientabove a patient’’s bed in 2005s bed in 2005Commenced with arm bands in ward 11 Commenced with arm bands in ward 11 WWBH 2005/6WWBH 2005/6

Colour CodesColour Codes

REDRED-- Requires Requires assistance, unsafe or assistance, unsafe or dependent, high risk dependent, high risk of fallsof fallsYELLOWYELLOW-- requires requires supervision, standby supervision, standby assistance or promptsassistance or promptsGREENGREEN-- Independent Independent and safeand safe

ProcedureProcedureRehabilitation Physio assesses a patientRehabilitation Physio assesses a patient’’s s mobility on admission, gives the appropriate mobility on admission, gives the appropriate coloured arm band and documents mobility coloured arm band and documents mobility status in patientstatus in patient’’s notes.s notes.Arm bands are changed by the Physio and Arm bands are changed by the Physio and mobility status on the ward changed as mobility mobility status on the ward changed as mobility changeschangesNursing staff can give out arm band if out of Nursing staff can give out arm band if out of Physio hours or if mobility deteriorates eg. On a Physio hours or if mobility deteriorates eg. On a weekendweekend

STAFF BADGESTAFF BADGE

Worn with name Worn with name badgebadgeUseful especially for Useful especially for new staff and casual new staff and casual staffstaff

GREEN BANDGREEN BAND

Independent with two Independent with two stickssticks

GREEN BANDGREEN BAND

Independent with Independent with slideboardslideboard

YELLOW BANDYELLOW BAND

Standby assistance Standby assistance with 2 wheel framewith 2 wheel frame

RED BANDRED BAND

Hands on assistance with walking and Hands on assistance with walking and transferstransfersWardsmanWardsmanHoistHoist

STAFF SURVEYSTAFF SURVEY

QuQu 1 Do you find the coloured arm bands 1 Do you find the coloured arm bands give you a better understanding of a give you a better understanding of a patientpatient’’s mobility status?s mobility status?ResultResult ((13 staff surveyed)13 staff surveyed)

Yes 92%Yes 92% (12 staff)(12 staff)

No 0%No 0%Unsure 8%Unsure 8% (1 staff)(1 staff)

STAFF SURVEYSTAFF SURVEY

QuQu 2 Do you find it easier to tell a patient2 Do you find it easier to tell a patient’’s s mobility status from a distance?mobility status from a distance?ResultResult ((13 staff surveyed)13 staff surveyed)

Yes 77%Yes 77% (10 staff)(10 staff)

No 23%No 23% (3 staff)(3 staff)

Unsure 0Unsure 0

STAFF COMMENTSSTAFF COMMENTS

““very goodvery good””““very usefulvery useful””““fantastic, especially when you donfantastic, especially when you don’’t know t know the patientthe patient’’s mobility status and dons mobility status and don’’t work t work with a patient very oftenwith a patient very often””““work really well, great for new staff or work really well, great for new staff or staff that have been offstaff that have been off””

PATIENT SURVEYPATIENT SURVEY

QuQu 1 Do you find the coloured armbands 1 Do you find the coloured armbands give you a better understanding of the give you a better understanding of the amount of assistance you need when amount of assistance you need when mobilising/transferring?mobilising/transferring?

Result Result (9 patients surveyed)(9 patients surveyed)

YES 100%YES 100% (9 patients)(9 patients)

NO NO 00UNSURE 0UNSURE 0

PATIENT COMMENTSPATIENT COMMENTS

““satisfiedsatisfied””I think it is a good system. It is simple to I think it is a good system. It is simple to follow and easy to recognise the three follow and easy to recognise the three levelslevels””““shows improvement!shows improvement!””““not good for colour blindsnot good for colour blinds””““get in the roadget in the road””