Falls Prevention
ADVICE FOR PATIENTS RELATIVES AND CARERS
Introduction
Falls within the hospital environment are an uncomfortable
Fact for both patients and staff. Inpatient falls are generally
the highest single reported incident to risk management.
Definition of fall as “A sudden uncontrolled, unintentional
downward displacement of the body to the ground or other
object excluding falls resulting from violent blows or other
purposeful actions” IHI (2004) Falls Policy
Serious implications arise for Social Services and the Health
Service Executive if we are unable to prevent people at risk
from falling, e.g. people over 65 years and those with
disabilities. The average cost of an acute hospital stay
following a fall in University Hospitals in Ireland is
approximately €9,200 and this cost rises to €14,339 if the
femoral neck is fractured (Cotter et al, 2006).
The subsequent fear of falling may lead to restriction in
activity and functional capacity (Martin et al, 2005)
which in turn may lead to increasing health care needs
and institutionalisation (Cumming et al, 2000).
Falls Trend to date at the MRHM
ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST
FOR FALLS PREVENTION
CAN YOU ANSWER YES TO ALL
OF THESE QUESTIONS?
Patient and staff goals and
evaluation
Strategies Applied to Falls Prevention
Patient orientated goals for safe
transfer
1. Advice sheet for patients carers and relatives on
reducing patient falls.
2. Falls Prevention referral form to Accident and
Emergency, OPD, and public access self referral
to Physiotherapy lead falls prevention
programme.
3. Inpatient falls assessment for all patients who
attend for care at MRHM as recommended by
the care team.
4. Should a fall occur an in-depth falls assessment
tool has been adopted which looks at all aspects
of patients care including one or more of these
assessments
Patient’s Relatives and Carers
• IS LIGHTING ADEQUATE?
• IS FLOOR DRY?
• IS FLOOR FREE OF TRAILING
FLEXES?
• ARE CORRIDORS FREE OF CHAIRS,
TROLLEYS etc?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• ARE CHAIRS STABLE?
• IS BED LEFT IN LOW POSITION?
• ARE BRAKES APPLIED TO BED?
• ARE WALKING AIDS TO HAND?
• ARE SPECTACLES CLEAN?
• ARE PERSONAL EFFECTS LEFT
.
Fall Prevention Strategy
Aims and objectives
WITHIN PATIENT’S REACH?
Take your Time
Staff evaluation for patient
transfer
• IS PATIENT WEARING NON-SLIP
FOOTWEAR?
Important Note to Remember
• IS PATIENT’S CALL BELL TO HAND?
Aim: To prevent factors within
MRHM and the wider community
associated with patient falls
Objectives: To Implement
multiple strategies to reduce the
risk of falls for all hospital users.
Environmental issues
Previous falls history
Medication review
Patients dietary intake including hydration
Related medical history
Cogitative assessment
Symptoms of Dizziness
Vision assessment
Balance and Gait assessment
Social factors
Some patients will still fall even if we have tried to do
all we can to prevent a fall, being in hospital does not
mean we can prevent all falls. We are working hard
with you our patients relatives and staff to reduce
patient falls. We cannot restrain the patient but we
may use safety sides on the bed or move the patients
position within the ward.
Falls & Osteoporosis Service, MedEL (2004)
Based on Fall Risk Assessment For The Elderly (FRASE)
Environmental Checklist (Cannard, 1996)
Acknowledgements
Thank you to all the multi-disciplinary staff who have been involved in the
role out and preparation of this initiative
t