title: Continuing the journey to a culture of patient safety: from falls prevention to falls management.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Leamington District Memorial Hospital, Leamington, Ontario.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tiessen
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deter
authors.forename: Anne W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Snowdon
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kolga
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054521:Cultural Competency; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D017751:Safety Management