Preventing patient falls - US hospitals guide

In response to the alarming statistic that almost a million people fall in American hospitals every year, with around 11,000 being fatal, the Health Research and Education Trust in the US has published a guide describing the risks that lead to patient falls and some solutions. Preventing patient falls: a systematic approach reports on the experiences of seven hospitals participating in the American Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare Project.

The top contributing factors to patient falls were grouped into six categories:

1. Fall risk assessment issues
2. Handoff communication issues
3. Toileting issues
4. Call light issues
5. Education and organizational culture issues
6. Medication issues

The two key areas to ensuring success in fall reduction programs were found to be adequately measuring and analysing the contributing factors and addressing culture change.