Accountability and teamwork : tools for a fall-free zone / Janet Heck, Amanda Gebhart, Kay E. Gaehle

Prevention of patient falls is a major safety concern in hospitals today. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services doesn't reimburse hospitals for care required as a result of a patient fall. This article discusses the evaluation of an existing fall prevention protocol and structural/procedural changes made in the protocol to attain a 246-day period of no patient falls on an orthopedic nursing unit. Ultimately, overall staff member willingness to be accountable and to hold each other accountable in fall prevention was the underlying force behind their success. Components of a successful fall prevention program require assessment of risk factors, interventions based on the environment, care processes and a culture of safety, and technology to reduce falls and fall-related injuries. Although staff members were aware of safety measures to prevent falls, further education and emphasis on this was needed.

Nursing