FALL PREVENTION PROGRAM

FALL PREVENTION PROGRAM
It is everyone's responsibility to provide a safe environment for patients.
Fall prevention is one aspect of patient SAFETY goals according with
JCAHO and hospital policy.

PREVENTION OF
FALLS IN
HOSPITAL IS AN
IMPORTANT
PATIENT
SAFETY
MEASURE TO
FOLLOW FOR
ALL STAFF.

WHAT IS A FALL ?
A fall is defined according to the facility or hospital policy.
FRHG policy defined a fall as a unpleasant experience that involve patient ,
family or staff and may or may not have side effects or medical
consequences or legal actions.

Educating
patients
potential for
falling while
hospitalized is
VERY
IMPORTANT.

Fall among hospital
inpatients are
common among
confused and
elderly patients.
Patients who fall incur
in serious physical
injuries, results in
fractures, subdural
hematomas, even
death.

Injuries due to falls increase health care costs.
Patient that sustain injury have approximately hospital charges over 7 to 8
times higher than those patients who do not fall.

EVERY ACUTE HEALTH CARE SETTING MUST IDENTIFY THE PATIENTS AT
RISK FOR FALL TO PREVENT OR MINIMIZE PATIENT FALLS AND
INJURIES WHILE HE/SHE IS IN THE HOSPITAL.

NURSES MUST
ACCURATELY
ASSESS ALL
PATIENTS AND
THEIR
ENVIRONMENT
FOR RISK
FACTORS FOR
FALLS.

FALL RISK ASSESSMENT
FALL RISK ASSESSMENT MUST BE PERFORMED UPON ADMISSION TO
IDENTIFY RISK FACTORS SUCH AS :
1- COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION.
2- DEMENTIA
3- IMPAIRED MOVILITY
4- MEDICATIONS
5- ENVIRONMENTAL.

Patient must be
assessed:
On every shift.
When patient condition
changes.
When patient
medications changes
When patient is
transferred to another
unit.
After a fall.
FALL RISK ASSESSMENT

1- Identifying causes and risk factors of falls is very important.
2- Falls may be caused by environmental or physiologic factors.
3- Some of them cant be predicted nor prevented.
4- Most of them are anticipated and identified through fall risk assessment.

1- Instruct the patient to request assistance as needed.
2- Keep rooms and hallways clear of obstacles.
3- Place assistive devices such as walkers and canes within a patients
reach.
4- Do not leave at – risk patients unattended in diagnostic or treatment
areas.

Fall prevention:
Communicate the
patients at risk status
with colleagues and
others disciplines.
Inform patient and family
regarding plan of care
to prevent falls.
Raise the side rails as
appropriate or
following hospitals
policies

The Morse fall
scale is a rapid
and simple
method of
assessing a
patients
likelihood of
falling.

Morse fall scale
assessment tool is
commonly tool used for
fall assessment.
Use variable descriptions
and scoring hints such
as:
1- History of falling
2- Ambulatory aids
3- Iv access.
4- Gaits
5- Mental status.

1- Make hourly rounds.
2- Teach patients to call
for help.
3- Place the following
items within patient
reach:
Call lights.
Water
Trash can
Phone
TV-remote control.
4- Place any fall
prevention devices to
high risk fall patients.
5- Position the bed to
the lowest position.
6- Leave the room free
from clutter.
7- Answer call light
promptly.
FALL PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS

Inpatient falls are
persistent
problems in a
hospital. There are
a lot of
characteristics,
circumstances,
activities that
contributes to falls.
Determines fall risk
factors increase
patients safety.
Planning
interventions in
place decrease
incidents reports
for falls.
Staff education
increase fall
prevention
awareness.
FALL PREVENTION PROGRAM SUMMARY

The goal for fall
prevention
program is
Patient SAFETY.

FALL PREVENTION PROGRAM

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