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.