Chair Files

Preventing Patient Falls

43,750: That’s the number of fall injuries the CMS Partnership for Patients campaign estimates would be prevented over three years if hospitals cut preventable fall injuries by 50% in 2013. Essentia Health in Fargo, N.D., aims to decrease preventable falls in its cardiac telemetry unit by 25% by the end of 2012 and by 50% by June 30, 2013. Staff have tested and implemented multiple interventions including intentional rounding, teach-back on the use of the call light, and post-fall huddles. In addition, the fall risk level is systematically recorded—written with colored markers on white boards in the unit and included in every shift report. As a result, from January to September 2012, the unit’s fall rate decreased from 7 falls per 1,000 patient days to 2.4 per 1,000 patient days. Essentia Health is part of the North Dakota Health Engagement Network (HEN), working in partnership with the AHA/HRET HEN  and CMS to support the PfP campaign.
For more information, contact Bev Ranstrom, North Dakota HEN project manager, at branstrom@ndhcri.org.

  

Additional Resources

Webinars December 13th, 2017

Equity of Care Webinar SeriesPart 2: Aligning Diversity and Inclusion, Community Engagement, Busi......

VIEW THIS RESOURCE
Webinars November 20th, 2017

Equity of Care Webinar SeriesPart 1: Aligning Diversity and Inclusion, Community Engagement, Busi......

VIEW THIS RESOURCE
Webinars November 17th, 2017

Transportation and the Role of Hospitals This AHA webinar on “Transportation and the Role of Hos......

VIEW THIS RESOURCE