It is virtually impossible to eliminate fall risk. However, fall prevention strategies can preserve patient health while saving staff time and increasing patient satisfaction. Consider these four evidence-based strategies:. Ideally, the tool will be used to assess all hospitalized patients, as patients of all ages and abilities are vulnerable to falls. Factors that commonly increase the risk of falling include impaired mobility such as that resulting from stroke, arthritis or neuromuscular disease , use of assistive devices including walker and canes , visual problems, and dementia and delirium.
Obviously, each of these factors requires different interventions. A patient who lives alone, has poor vision and uses a walker to steady herself may not want to wait for someone to help her to the bathroom and may try to get there on her own, despite repeated encouragement to call for assistance.
Keeping her glasses and walker within reach and maintaining a clear path between the bed and bathroom may decrease her risk of falling. Patients who are disoriented fall into the high-risk category, as they may not remember fall prevention instructions or even their current location.
It may well be cost-effective to provide safety companions, such as certified nursing assistants, to stay with confused patients. Keep the patient busy. Hospital staff gave patients different activities to do so they would be occupied and less likely to get out of bed. Staff also educate and partner with families in fall prevention.
Set bed alarms. Anderson Hospital changed the way they use bed alarms for patients at high risk for falls. The bed alarm's default time interval is 10 seconds between the time a patient leaves the bed and the time the alarm sounds.
Clinicians and staff established a protocol to check that the bed alarm interval is always at one or two seconds. Barker, A. Journal of Advanced Nursing, Haines, T. Bell, and P. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Cameron, I. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Oliver, D.
BMJ, Skip to main content. Falls prevention in hospital. On this page. Key messages Identify falls risk Intentional rounding Low-low beds Bed or chair alarms Non-slip socks For patients with bone conditions For patients with bleeding disorders For surgical patients Referral to other health professionals Multifactorial interventions Educate the patient, their family and carers.
Key messages A combination of strategies is needed to help prevent falls in hospitals. Strategies may focus on the environment, the level of care, the use of equipment and aids. Identify falls risk Use falls risk identifiers, for example coloured signs or traffic light symbols, to communicate level of falls risk.
Ensure staff understand what the identifiers mean and what strategies they should be implementing. Explain what the identifiers mean to the patient and their visitors. Intentional rounding Consider undertaking regular rounds for example hourly or two hourly to check on patients to ensure fundamental needs are being met.
Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:. Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional.
Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers.
When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page.
0コメント