Preventing Patient Falls: Starting Out on the Right Foot-Preventing Patient Falls presentation

Preventing Patient Falls presentation

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The document on "Preventing Patient Falls" focuses on strategies and findings to reduce fall incidences in healthcare settings. It highlights that between 700,000 to 1 million falls occur annually in the U.S., with a third being preventable. Falls are a major reason for hospital readmissions, particularly among the elderly, and they're considered a significant hazard incurring high costs and serious injuries. Since 2008, CMS stopped reimbursing hospitals for fall-related injuries classified as Hospital Acquired Conditions (HACs). <br /><br />Prevention of falls involves assessing and managing intrinsic (e.g., health conditions) and extrinsic (e.g., environmental) risk factors. Fall prevention strategies include improving patient education, environmental adjustments, ensuring adequate staffing, using technology like bed alarms, conducting regular patient assessments, and employing risk assessment tools such as the Hendrich II and Johns Hopkins Fall Assessment Tool. Specific medications, especially those affecting the central nervous system, have been identified as risk enhancers. <br /><br />The document emphasizes creating a culture of safety through education, staff training, and integration of comprehensive care plans. It suggests systematic approaches like using AHRQ toolkits and implementing interventions based on evidence-based practices including the NIH and CDC guidelines. The joint efforts of interdisciplinary teams, including nurses, physicians, and physical therapists, are encouraged for a multifaceted approach.<br /><br />For intentional fall prevention, the document advises strategic interventions like having a "No pass zone" policy, additional use of nurses, promoting mobility, and utilizing assistive technologies. Furthermore, incidents involving falls are followed by root cause analyses for continuous improvement in safety practices. Regular monitoring and documentation aid in identifying areas for improvement and making informed decisions to safeguard against falls in hospitals.

Keywords

Patient Falls

Fall Prevention

Healthcare Safety

Hospital Readmissions

Risk Assessment

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors

CMS Reimbursement

Interdisciplinary Teams

AHRQ Toolkits

Root Cause Analysis