Implementation of a patient falls risk-management strategy

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Improvement
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Patient falls among older adults represent a significant concern for healthcare systems.
• Falls incur substantial financial and emotional burdens on patients and healthcare providers.
• The Department of Health has prioritized falls reduction within the National Service Framework for Older People.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of a falls risk-management improvement program.
• To highlight the role of clinical governance in addressing patient falls.
• To demonstrate a proactive approach to falls prevention in a healthcare trust.

Main Methods:

• Clinical incident reporting system utilized to identify falls.
• Audit conducted based on reported falls data.
• Development and implementation of a falls risk-management improvement program.
• Integration of the program into the existing clinical governance strategy.

Main Results:

• Clinical incident reporting facilitated the identification of falls as a priority.
• An audit provided data to inform improvement strategies.
• A falls risk-management program was successfully introduced.
• The program became an integral part of the trust's clinical governance.

Conclusions:

• Clinical incident reporting and auditing are effective tools for identifying healthcare improvement areas.
• Implementing a structured falls risk-management program can enhance patient safety.
• Integrating falls management into clinical governance is crucial for sustained improvement.