Understanding the Vital Role of Patient Sitters | Sharp Home Care

Understanding the Vital Role of Patient Sitters | Sharp Home Care

When we think about hospital care, the first things that come to mind include doctors, nurses and medical equipment. But there is an indispensable aspect of patient care that usually escapes our attention, which is the hospital sitter who takes care of patients. These are very important individuals who assure safety, comfort and general well-being of patients in hospitals. In this section we delve into the world of hospital patient sitters and why they are increasingly vital in modern medicine.

What is a Hospital Patient Sitter?

A hospital patient sitter may also be known as a patient companion or patient watch-sitter; he/she is a trained professional whose job entails constant observation around-the-clock for patients who need it. The main duty assigned to them is to ensure that the patient’s safety is guaranteed by preventing falls or self-inflicted injuries and reporting any variations in his/her condition to the health personnel.

The Growing Need for Patient Sitters

There are several factors contributing towards higher demand for hospital patient sitters:

• Increase in life expectancy associated with complex health needs
• Increase in dementia rates and cognitive impairments
• Increased awareness to patients' safety within healthcare settings
• Additional supporting staff due to shortages of nurse

Key Responsibilities of Hospital Patient Sitters

• Continual Surveillance: Patient minders keenly observe their allocated patients by monitoring their behavioral pattern, moods and physical conditions.
• Elude Falling: Where a patient is at risk of falling, sitters help in mobilization and guaranteeing a safe setting.
• Friendship: Sitters offer not only much-needed companionship but also emotional encouragement especially to the long-term clients.
• Medium of Communication: They serve as an intermediary between patients and medical practitioners passing vital information or concerns.
• Assist with Basic Needs: Though not providing any medical care, sitter’s responsibilities may involve helping patients to eat, drink or use the washroom for instance.
• Dementia and Confusion Management: In cases where patients are suffering from mental illness such as dementia, sitters play a role in creating calm environments while preventing them from wandering off.
• Suicide Watch: In certain instances, some individuals stand guard close to self-destructive persons to avoid losing sight of them.

The Impact of Patient Sitters on Healthcare Outcomes

Hospital patient sitters can make a real difference in healthcare:

• Decreased Falls Rate: Studies have indicated that high-risk patients’ fall rates can be lowered by up to 50% simply through the use of patient sitters within hospitals.
• Enhanced Patient Satisfaction: It is not uncommon for the attention given by these additional personnel as well as support offered helping in raising scores on satisfaction among the patients they attend to.
• A reduced application of restraints: Sitters are an alternative to physical restraints, therefore this enables enhancement of a patient’s dignity and comfort.
• Timely intervention: This is possible as sitters keep a close eye on patients hence notifying the staff in an event of change in condition necessitating prompt intervention.
• Lightened workload on nurses: Sitters are involved in non-medical tasks thus allowing nurses to address more complicated patient care needs.

Challenges and Considerations

Although there are advantages associated with hospital patient sitters, some challenges exist:

• Expense: It can be costly for hospitals and patients to provide one-on-one care.
• Training: Ensuring that all sitters have proper training on patient safety and hospital protocols is vital.
• Burnout: As it may be both emotionally and physically demanding for somebody, working as a sitter could lead to burnout.
• Care balance: The need for supervision should be balanced with respect for individuals’ privacy.

Conclusion:

The Invaluable Contribution of Hospital Patient Sitters

Undoubtedly, hospital patient sitters support the wellbeing of patients who require attention and assistance across our contemporary healthcare systems though they remain unsung heroes doing so. Their existence does not only make patients safer but also results in a more compassionate approach to comprehensive care delivery in health institutions.

If you want to start a hospital patient sitter career or if your health facility is considering introducing a patient sitter program, Sharp Home Care can offer professional help and advice. Go to https://sharphomecare.com/hospital-sitter-care for more information about how such professionals can change the way you experience healthcare.