Using process improvement methodology to address the complex issue of falls in the inpatient setting.
Falls in the acute care hospital are a significant patient safety issue. The purpose of this article was to describe the use of process improvement methodology to address inpatient falls on 5 units. This initiative focused on a proactive approach to falls, identification of high-risk patients, and a complete assessment of patients at risk. During the project timeframe, the mean total fall rate decreased from 3.7 to 2.8 total falls per 1000 patient days.
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Mss Christopher, Yoho, and Dubendorf and Dr Trotta); and Clinical Solutions Group, Kronos Incorporated, Chelmsford, Massachusetts (Ms Strong).
Deborah A
DA
Christopher
Rebecca L
RL
Trotta
Margaret A
MA
Yoho
Jocelyn
J
Strong
Phyllis
P
Dubendorf
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D061214:Patient Safety; D058996:Quality Improvement; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods