Name
#188 - Implementation of Quality Improvement Initiatives to reduce falls in hospital settings.
Date & Time
Monday, February 12, 2024, 12:00 PM
Description

Abstract Practice Problem: Falls are among the most reported hospital-acquired conditions and can lead to severe injuries, increased length of hospital stays, pain, distress, and emotional trauma in the elderly. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) identifies falls as preventable and no longer authorizes reimbursement to healthcare systems for treating inpatient fall-related injuries. PICOT Question: In adult patients in hospital settings (P), how does implementing evidence-based multimodal fall prevention strategies (I) compared to routine fall prevention strategies (C) affect fall rate (O) over a period of 6-8 weeks (T)? Background: The project site experienced an increase in patient falls and identified the need for fall prevention strategies to include acute care, critical care, CLC and facility grounds related to intervention to prevent patient falls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), (2020), “In the United States, about one in four adults aged 65 and older report falling each year” (para.1). Falls can lead to increased mortality, disability, increased healthcare costs and decreased quality of life (AHRQ, 2013). The national average of adults 65 years and older falling each year was about 28% (CDC, 2020). In the state of Texas, the rate is 33.9%. Falling was the leading cause of injury-related deaths in adults 65 years and older (CDC, 2020). Evidence: The literature review revealed that using multimodal prevention strategies effectively reduces fall risk and fall-related injuries and thus improves patient safety and outcomes. Evidence-Based Practice Framework: An evidence-based practice (EBP) framework was instrumental for this change project to guide the research process, explain the research findings, and translate the research findings into practice. The theoretical framework helped to translate the research findings into clinical practices. Intervention: A multimodal fall prevention strategy was developed, utilizing tools such as MAHC-10 Fall risk assessment tool in outpatient settings, chair alarm , expanding the Avasure monitoring system to the intermediate areas, implementation of hydration rounds and DFR rounding in CLC area, golf carts to transport patients to and from appointments, having designated pick up areas with benches in the parking lot and establishing a standardized route for golf carts and visible signage posting in the parking lot with information to request a ride. Outcome: this EBP project resulted in an overall reduction in fall rates and the fall rate with injuries. The project resulted in an increase in the staff’s knowledge and awareness of multimodal fall prevention strategies and increased patient satisfaction. Conclusion: The reduction in the incidence of falls with major injury after the implementation of the EBP project in the hospital setting was reduced tremendously. The result indicated a clinically meaningful improvement in fall-related injury outcomes and increased staff knowledge and awareness of the fall prevention strategies.

Location Name
Prince Georges Exhibit Hall A/B
Content Presented on Behalf of
VHA/VA
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this presentation the learner will be able to
1. Identify at least 2 actions that will reduce the number of falls in hospital settings
2. Will verbalize that they will be able to implement at least one initiative in their practice settings
3. Learner will discuss at least 2 strategies in disseminating these initiatives with colleagues
Session Type
Posters
Dropdown Content Presented On Behalf Of:
VHA/VA