Achieving and Sustaining a Decreased Fall Rate Through Innovation and Education

Purpose:
To design and implement a comprehensive fall prevention program to eliminate patient falls and fall related injuires in an acute care community hospital setting. To utilize innovative strategies to sustain results.

Significance:
Falls are one of the most frequent adverse events that cause harm to hospitalized patients. A fall with injury can prolong hospitalization, compromise patient independence, impact the patient's quality of life, and increase hospital costs. Fall prevention translates to positive outcomes.

Strategy and Implementation:
A multidisciplinary team participated in a 2-day workout to design the fall prevention program. The program was initiated during the 2nd quarter of 2010. An interactive education program, attended by all clinical & nonclinical associates launched the initiative. The following innovative strategies,implemented over time,comprise the program: annual interactive falls prevention education fair; safe handling included to prevent associate injuries, weekly ACAs on all patient falls, House wide "Fall Alert" paged to all leadership(24/7), CNE discusses fall with involved associates immediately after the post fall huddle via phone, collaborative agreement(My Fall Safety Plan) posted at patient's bedside, quarterly fall prevalence study done in conjunction with the pressure ulcer study, Safe handling equipment purchased to decrease pt falls & associate injuries, Gait belts & walkers in patient rooms, no commodes left at bedside, & No high risk patients left unattended in bathroom

Evaluation:
The hospital fall rate for the 1st quarter of 2010 was 3.57 & the fall related injury rate was 1.66. With ongoing leadership support for our program the fall rate not only decreased but the results have been sustained. The fall rate for the 1st quarter of 2013 was 1.66 & the injury rate was 0.11.

Implications for Practice:
Our fall prevention program has demonstrated a sustained decrease in patient falls and fall related injuries. There has also been a 50 % reduction in the number of patient handling injuries experienced by nurses. A safer enviroment for both patients and associates has been achieved.