Individualized Fall Prevention Program in an Acute Care Setting: An Evidence-Based Practice Improvement. Issue 2 (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Spano-Szekely, Lauraine; Winkler, Anne; Waters, Cathy; Dealmeida, Susana; Brandt, Kathy; Williamson, Marsha; Blum, Christina; Gasper, Lori; Wright, Fay
• Is Part Of: Journal of nursing care quality. Volume 34:Issue 2(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: clinical practice guideline -- evidence-based practice improvement -- fall prevention -- fall risk assessment -- video monitoring; Nursing -- Standards -- Periodicals; Nursing audit -- Periodicals; Health facilities -- Safety measures -- Periodicals; Nurse administrators -- Periodicals; 610.73
• DOI: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000344
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-3631

Abstract

Abstract : Background: A 245-bed community hospital established patient fall prevention as its patient safety priority. Problem: The hospital's fall prevention program was not consistently effective. The baseline fall rate was 3.21, higher than the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators' median of 2.91. Approach: An interprofessional fall prevention team evaluated the hospital's fall program using the evidence-based practice improvement model. A clinical practice guideline with 7 key practices guided the development of an individualized fall prevention program with interventions to address 4 fall risk categories and an algorithm to identify interventions. Interventions included nurse-driven mobility assessment, purposeful hourly rounding, and video monitoring for confused and impulsive fall-risk patients. Outcomes: The fall rate decreased to 1.14, with a 72% expense reduction based on decreased sitter usage. Conclusions: An interprofessional team successfully reduced falls with an evidence-based fall prevention program. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text.