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Evidence-based expert: Prevent patient falls with routine checkups

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, October 17, 2008

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This week’s expert, Carole Eldridge, DNP, RN, CNAA-BC, gives tips for conducting a check-up of your facility’s fall-prevention program for continual patient safety.

Q. How can I conduct a routine assessment of my facility’s fall-prevention program?

A. A regular assessment of your fall-prevention program should involve a review of falls by your safety committee, which should include representatives from administration, the kitchen, maintenance, housekeeping, nursing, and direct caregivers. Examine all the patient falls that have occurred since the last review. During safety committee meetings, ask the following questions to determine the root cause of the incident, remembering that more than one of the items may be a contributing factor:

• Procedures and patient assessment: Were adequate procedures/proper patient assessments in place to prevent the incident?
• Equipment: Did staff/patients use the proper equipment in the right way?
• Communication: Did proper communication occur between the staff members and the patient(s)?

Have a question for our evidence-based experts? Be a part of our new feature by emailing your queries to managing editor Maureen Larkin at mlarkin@hcpro.com. See your name in print and get the answers you’re looking for!

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