Safety Standards: Implementing Fall Prevention Interventions and Sustaining Lower Fall Rates by Promoting the Culture of Safety on an Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to review a quality improvement project aimed to examine how nurse leaders in an inpatient rehabilitation (IPR) unit can reduce the number of patient falls by implementing multiple fall prevention interventions and sustain their results by promoting a strong culture of safety on the unit.


METHODS
A retrospective review of IPR fall rates was performed. Quarterly fall rates were then compared with implementation dates of fall prevention interventions (safety huddles, signage, and hourly rounding). Culture of safety scores were also examined to assess the effect of an enhanced culture of safety on the sustainability of lowered fall rates.


RESULTS
The largest decrease in fall rate was noted after initial revitalization efforts of the IPR unit's culture of safety concurrently with hourly rounding.


CONCLUSIONS
Fall rates rise and fall despite multiple fall prevention interventions and encouraging a positive shift in the culture of safety.


CONCLUSIONS
Physical injuries following a fall can reduce mobility and increase morbidity. Costs associated with falls negatively impact costs and reimbursement. Employing evidence-based fall prevention strategies are then of critical importance to nurse leaders as falls remain an ongoing serious adverse event.
Nursing Education & Research, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
Rita Marie
RM
Leone
Inpatient Rehabilitation, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
Rachel Joy
RJ
Adams
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States
Falls; management; safety issues