Continuing the journey to a culture of patient safety: from falls prevention to falls management.
This article documents the change management process undertaken in a small community hospital on one stage of the journey toward a patient safety culture. On this part of the journey, the patient care model founded on a philosophy of falls prevention was transformed to one based on a model of falls management. The change process culminated in a more elder-friendly environment complemented by a respect for patients' choices, even when those choices include personal risk. Our cultural transformation resulted in a patient safety culture characterized by (1) a restraints-free physical environment and (2) a rate of patient falls accompanied by serious harm that is lower than the industry average. The first step on our journey to a culture of patient safety was completed over a three-year period.
Tiessen
Barbara
B
Leamington District Memorial Hospital, Leamington, Ontario.
Deter
Cheryl
C
Snowdon
Anne W
AW
Kolga
Carol
C
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054521:Cultural Competency; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D017751:Safety Management