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Reducing inpatient falls in an acute neurology unit: implementation of a fall communication tool
Dissertation   Open access

Reducing inpatient falls in an acute neurology unit: implementation of a fall communication tool

Colleen Lynn Price
Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.), Drexel University
28 May 2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00001989
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Abstract

Fall prevention Fall assessment tool Adult inpatient falls
Patient falls are consistently one of the most reported sentinel events in the hospital setting and can increase the length of hospital stays, financial costs and morbidity and mortality. Fall rates are key metrics within the National Database Quality Indicator reporting system and can affect a health system's designation as a high-reliability organization. The goal of this quality initiative is to decrease fall rates for neurology and stroke patients on an intermediate care unit with the use of a customized communication tool in conjunction with the standard fall assessment when compared to patients with only the standard fall assessment. The visual communication tool was placed at the bedside to provide patient safety information so that anyone entering the room would be aware of the patient's risk factors. This quality initiative was expected to decrease April 2023 fall rates when compared to those from April 2022. This was successfully accomplished. One limitation of the study was its brief duration. A longer timeframe is recommended for evaluation of this tool to obtain a greater sample of patients and allow more time for education and practice adherence. Qualitative remarks by staff stated that the use of the tool helped to ensure safety measures were put in place appropriately and led to effective communication and that they felt the tool prevented further falls from occurring.

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