Preventing Patient Falls
One of the major safety concerns that hospitals face today is preventing patient falls. A fall is defined as "an unexpected inadvertant change in position thta causes a person to land at a lower level on an object, floor or ground" (Payson & Haviley, 2005). Falls can be witnessed, unwitnessed or assisted. If a patient is ofund on the floor, it is treated as a fall. They are very common and may result in injuries and complications whcih prolongs hospitalization, decreases patient's functional capacities and leads to increased healthcare costs.
The first step in preventing falls is to correctly assess the patients who are at risk. At our facility, certain criteria must be met for the patient to be placed on fall precaustion. A score
The first step in preventing falls is to correctly assess the patients who are at risk. At our facility, certain criteria must be met for the patient to be placed on fall precaustion. A score