Preventing Patient Falls
Falls while in the hospital can result in serious injury to patients.
Yet falls are one of the most difficult patient safety issues to address
because of their multiple causes. Patients can fall due to equipment issues,
such as lack of guard rails or missing slip mats. Patients can also fall from
trying to get out of bed without assistance. Patients who are disoriented or on
certain medications also are at risk for falling. The risk of serious injury
from falls increases with age.
To decrease the rate of falls, MHA developed a
falls road map and a safe patient handling
road map that provide a comprehensive set of best practices incorporating
research and learnings from national and local efforts. Road maps reflect
published literature and guidance from relevant professional organizations and
regulatory agencies, as well as identified proven practices.