Cost analysis of a falls-prevention program in an orthopaedic setting

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic patient safety
• Healthcare quality improvement
• Health economics

Background:

• Inpatient falls among orthopaedic patients can lead to severe consequences, including injuries, extended hospital stays, and increased healthcare expenses.
• Effective fall prevention strategies are crucial for improving patient outcomes and managing hospital resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary Falls-prevention Program (FPP) on inpatient fall incidence and fall-related injuries in an orthopaedic setting.
• To assess the economic implications of implementing the FPP by analyzing associated costs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of patient data and fall incident reports to identify risk factors.
• Implementation of a multidisciplinary Falls-prevention Program (FPP).
• Cost analysis comparing pre- and post-intervention periods to determine financial impact.

Main Results:

• Pre-intervention fall rate was significantly higher (3.49 per 1000 bed days) compared to post-intervention (2.68 per 1000 bed days).
• Post-intervention, there was a reduction in the number of falls, minor injuries, and major injuries (including zero hip fractures).
• Total fall-related costs decreased dramatically from $117,754.12 pre-intervention to $811.70 post-intervention, despite the FPP implementation cost of $15,694.46.

Conclusions:

• The multidisciplinary Falls-prevention Program (FPP) effectively reduced the incidence of inpatient falls in orthopaedic patients.
• Implementation of the FPP led to significant decreases in fall-related injuries and associated healthcare costs.
• The FPP demonstrates a positive return on investment, improving both patient safety and hospital financial efficiency.