Preventing patient falls and its related injuries in acute care settings has been an elusive goal for many hospitals. As we already know that falls are high-risk and high-cost problems for many healthcare facilities, and there are several factors that contributed to the complexity of sustaining true fall reduction and the avoidance of harm and injuries. For example, an aging population, rising patient acuity, nurse shortages, and an inefficient work environment for caregivers can make the process improvement a challenge. Leadership plays an instrumental role in understanding the problem, establishing a safety climate culture, and improving the work environment of caregivers so that much needed direct nursing time for patient care can be increased. What factors do your hospital face to prevent falls?
Hitcho, E. B., Krauss, M. J., Birge, S., et.al. (2004). Characteristics and circumstances of falls in a hospital setting: A prospective analysis. Journal of Geriatric Internal Medicine, 19(7), 732-739.
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