Implementation of a patient fall prevention program
Nursing professionals play an important role in the patient falls prevention program. The success of the patient falls prevention program is associated with the proper evaluation, measurement and effective strategies implemented during the course of the program. Decreased patient falls, reduced costs associated with patient falls, increased patient satisfaction, reduced injuries associated with patient falls, and improved employee satisfaction are some of the clinical outcomes of patient falls prevention program. It is important to understand and evaluate each of the outcomes. (Quigley, P., et al; 2007)
Nursing employees and healthcare professionals need to evaluate the incidence of falls after the implementation of the program. Use of statistical software and computer assisted systems is considered to be one of the best methods to evaluate the rate of patient falls in the healthcare setting. Evaluation of the program includes modifications and amendments to the initial protocol of the program. Modifications may include increased staff members, reducing risks associated with patient falls, and evaluating the stakeholders in the falls prevention program. Evaluation sheets and patient feedback forms are some of the method used to assess the patient falls prevention program. Rate cards are provided to patients to evaluate the success of the program. Rate cards evaluate the success or failure of the program based on the patient and employee satisfaction. Nursing professionals could provide necessary information on the patient falls prevention program based on personal opinions. Nursing professionals evaluate the stakeholders and patient satisfaction to improve the falls prevention program. Healthcare professionals and nurses would build a track record for individual patients to improve the program. The nursing staff would also maintain the records of injuries associated with patient falls. In some cases, the management team would also introduce a business development team to understand the needs of employees associated with the falls prevention program. (Quigley, P., et al; 2007)
Measuring and rating the outcomes
There are various methods to evaluate and measure the outcomes of the patient falls prevention program. Many researchers, clinicians and healthcare programs utilize advanced statistical programs like SPSS and SAS. However, most of the software available in the market are costly. On the other hand, the software used by most researchers are considered to be accurate and provide the best results compared to manual or conventional data interpretation techniques. Firstly, it is important to measure the frequencies of falls in the healthcare setting. It is important to evaluate the falls rate by considering the number of falls and the severity of the injury associated with the fall. Many falls prevention program use a common formula that mentioned below:
The formula would help nursing professionals to adjust the patient census and improve the falls prevention program to reduce the falls rate. On the other hand, the injury rates can also be calculated using a simple formula that is mentioned here below:
The formula would assist nursing professionals to measure the severity and numb of injuries associated with patient falls in an effective manner. Quantitative methods of measurement have also been introduced in the program. For example, a rate card could consists of scores (1 to 10). A score of 10 would indicate high patient and employee satisfaction. However, a score of 5 or below would indicate failure or the need of improvement in the patient falls prevention program. (Quigley, P., et al; 2007)
Adaptation of different strategies
Many healthcare and nursing professionals develop strategies to reduce or prevent patient falls in their healthcare settings. This section of the paper would highlight the different strategies that are employed in patient falls prevention program. (Morse, J.M. 1997).
Balance and Mobility: Nursing professionals need to check the patient’s mobility and balance on a daily basis to ensure safety and prevention of falls. The next step consist of recording patient data and communicating it with other members of the program. Nursing professionals are also involved in the supervision of the patients at all times during the program. Healthcare professionals should encourage patient safety by providing mobility aids at the bedside. (Morse, J.M. 1997).
Cognition: Many patients admitted in the intensive care unit suffer from restlessness and aggression. It is important that healthcare professionals understand the importance of cognitive behavior of patients to prevent falls in the future. Patient treatment (Pain, infection, constipation, and dehydration) are some of the underlying causes of falls that should be controlled to reduce falls. An advanced system like bed and chair alarms, lo-lo beds with confused patients are some key strategies employed in the falls prevention program.
Medication: Many patients are administered to night sedatives that are associated with falls. It is important to consider alternative medications for such patients. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation are advised for patients with osteoporosis. Pain management and patient medications should be thoroughly evaluated prior to the implementation of the program.
Toileting and restrains: Many patients would need assistance while urinating or bathing. Most of the falls occur during toileting or bathing. Nursing professionals should ensure that such patients are provided 24 hour assistance. Healthcare professionals should minimize the use of physical and chemical restrains and follow hospital policies to reduce patient falls.
Conclusions
Patient falls have increased over the past ten years due to improper management of ward areas, insufficient training of staff members, and the lack of a patient falls prevention program. It is important to understand the needs of the patient and employees associated with the patient falls prevention program. The main outcomes of patient falls prevention program are decreased incidences of falls, decreased severity of falls, increased mobility and function of patients, improved environmental safety, enhanced staff knowledge, improved patient and client satisfaction, enhanced assessment, and improved cognitive function of patients. Improved quality of life and decreased falls are the main clinical outcomes of falls prevention program. The importance of falls prevention program is associated with the decreased number of in-house patient falls, decreased injury rate, and patient satisfaction (improved quality of life). Patient falls prevention program is said to enhance training and knowledge of members associated with the program. Nursing professionals play an important role in the patient falls prevention program. Patient falls have increased over the past ten years due to improper management of ward areas, insufficient training of staff members, and the lack of a patient falls prevention program. (Child, S., et al; 2012)
Healthcare and nursing professionals play an important role in the investigation, plan, implementation, communication, review, action plan, and evaluation of the patient falls prevention program. Apart from the nurse, the hospital administrative staff and business development team play an important role in the investigation and implementation of the program. It is important that all members associated with the falls prevention program co-ordinate and communicate with each other in an efficient manner. To conclude, the success of the patient falls prevention program is associated with the proper evaluation, measurement and effective strategies implemented during the course of the program. (Fitzpatrick, A. 2011).
References
Child, S., Goodwin, V., Garside, R., Hughes, J., T., Boddy, K., & Stein, K. (2012). Factors influencing the implementation of fall-prevention programmes: a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative studies. Implementation Science 2012, 7:91. Retrieved: http://www.implementationscience.com/content/7/1/91
Fitzpatrick, A. (2011). Best Practices for Falls Reduction. American Nurse Today. Pdf file. Retrieved: http://www.americannursetoday.com/assets/0/434/436/440/7364/7542/7544/7634/4e4e7c0a-fddc-498a-9e6b-2f8736c36adb.pdf
Morse, J.M. (1997). Preventing patient falls. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage.
Publications, Inc.
Quigley, P., Neily J., Watson, M., Wright, M., & Strobe K. (2007). Measuring fall program outcomes. Online J Issues Nurs. 2007 Mar 2; 12(2):8. Retrieved: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21848355
