Implementing a Video Surveillance Monitoring System to Enhance Fall Prevention Strategies

Purpose:
The goal of this project was to implement a video surveillance monitoring system to enhance patient safety and reduce patient falls on the Medicine unit.

Significance:
Approximately one million inpatient falls occur each year in U.S. hospitals. Of these falls, 1-3% result in fractures; however even minor injuries can cause distress and delay in rehabilitation. After a patient falls there is a potential for increase in length of stay and financial implications.

Strategy and Implementation:
An interdisciplinary team researched, planned and implemented the video surveillance monitoring program. Patients that met the guidelines for inclusion in the program (CPM Fall Risk score >10, history of a fall, impulsive behavior, impaired cognitive function, unsteady gait) were placed in a video monitored bed. The patient and their family members were provided verbal and written information about the program. The video monitor team members consists of a rotation of staff members assigned to view a surveillance monitor and round on patients. The team members were educated and trained in this new role. A pilot was instituted on the Medicine unit, which was chosen due to the elderly population and fall rate. The pilot was successful at reducing patient falls and the program was expanded after one month. Data was collected on the number of staff interventions recorded for each patient and the number of falls in the video monitor rooms.

Evaluation:
There are 10 monitored beds on Medicine and 4 on Telemetry. It has been operational since June 2012. The average bed occupancy rate is 95 to 100%. Verbal reminders and staff interventions have prevented over 12,500 fall opportunities. There has been one documented fall in the video monitored rooms.

Implications for Practice:
The video surveillance monitoring program is a new and innovative fall prevention strategy that maintains patient safety. This program improves communication among healthcare providers, reduces patient falls, and has the potential to save money. This program can be instituted as a best practice.