Preventing Patient Falls: Starting Out on the Right Foot-Preventing Patient Falls LMS Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Laura Dixon, a seasoned professional in risk management and patient safety, addresses the critical issue of patient falls in healthcare facilities. Her impressive career includes serving as the Director of Risk Management for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado and holding significant roles in patient safety in various states. Laura emphasizes the frequency and impact of patient falls, highlighting how they lead to readmissions and significant costs. She cites research showing that a considerable percentage of falls are preventable. Key strategies involve managing underlying risks like medication interactions and transfer issues. Laura stresses that patient education is crucial, especially for older adults who often do not perceive their fall risk.<br /><br />Falls are a leading cause of readmissions, and preventing them is vital for patient safety and financial reasons, given that CMS has not reimbursed for fall-related injuries since 2008. Falls, particularly in hospitals, are labeled as "never events," and some states have stopped billing for them. To combat this, hospitals have implemented fall prevention programs, involving more staff and the use of monitoring technologies like bed alarms. However, medication, especially sleep aids like Ambien, significantly increases fall risk, necessitating tailored interventions.<br /><br />Laura also discusses the importance of auditing fall incidents, understanding the contributing factors, and ensuring organizational commitment to fall prevention. Using examples like newborn falls and the risks associated with various hospital units, she underscores the multifaceted approach needed to address this persistent issue, advocating for a comprehensive fall prevention strategy involving staff education, patient assessment, and environmental management.

Keywords

patient falls

risk management

patient safety

fall prevention

healthcare facilities

readmissions

medication interactions

never events

CMS reimbursement

monitoring technologies

organizational commitment

staff education

environmental management