Implementation of a Risk Specific Fall Prevention Bundle to Reduce Falls in Hospitals

Accidental falls are the most common reported patient safety incident in hospitals with rates from 2.9 to 13 per 1000 patient days. Up to 30 percent of falls result in injury including death. Interventions targeted to patients' fall risk factors are necessary to reduce falls but few hospital fall prevention programs have implemented such an approach. The purpose of this 18 month study was to implement fall prevention interventions targeted to patient risk factors and evaluate use of these practices and their impact on reducing falls and fall related injuries. This interdisciplinary team was led by Marita Titler, PhD and Paul Conlon, PharmD, JD.