Designing a falls prevention strategy that works.
In implementing an evidence-based falls prevention strategy in acute care, planners are frequently pressed to meet organizational targets while allowing staff flexibility to match interventions with patient population needs and clinical realities. We describe the process of how one hospital creatively used evidence, systems change, staff engagement, expert consultation, policy and protocols, staff and patient education, marketing, and celebration to design and implement a falls prevention strategy on 60 clinical units that reduced annual fall rates by 20%.
Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. irelasan@hhsc.ca
Sandra
S
Ireland
Terry
T
Lazar
Caroline
C
Mavrak
Beverly
B
Morgan
Anne
A
Pizzacalla
Cathy
C
Reis
Nancy
N
Fram
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002170:Canada; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013192:Staff Development / Q000458:organization & administration*