Keywords

acute care, fall prevention, fall-related injuries, falls, medical-surgical units

Authors

1. Quigley, Patricia A. PhD, ARNP, CRRN, FAAN
2. Hahm, Bridget MA, MPH
3. Collazo, Sonia MSN, RN
4. Gibson, Wanda MS, RN
5. Janzen, Sandra MS, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
6. Powell-Cope, Gail PhD, ARNP, FAAN
7. Rice, Fanny MEd, RD
8. Sarduy, Innette MPH, RN, CNAA
9. Tyndall, Kyna MS, RN, LHRM, CPHQ
10. White, Susan V. PhD, RN, CPHQ, FNAHQ, CNAA

Abstract

A large veteran's hospital participated in a year-long collaborative project across 9 hospitals to reduce serious injury from falls in acute care, targeting medical-surgical units. The primary objective of this project was to develop and test a set of interventions (bundles) to prevent serious physical injury (fractures and hemorrhagic bleeds) from patient falls. The interventions were implemented using tests of change on 2 medical-surgical units focused on engaging unit-based staff and combining innovations for vulnerable populations at greatest risk for injury if they fall.