Call to Action: Addressing Pediatric Fall Safety in Ambulatory Environments

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Patient Safety
• Healthcare Environmental Design
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Pediatric falls in ambulatory settings are a significant patient safety concern.
• Existing fall prevention strategies are primarily designed for inpatient settings and are not directly applicable to ambulatory environments.
• A lack of research and specific guidelines hinders the development of effective fall reduction strategies for pediatric ambulatory care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing research and environmental assessment findings, incorporating interprofessional stakeholder input.
• To develop evidence-based recommendations for enhancing fall safety within pediatric ambulatory environments.
• To address the knowledge gap and inform the creation of targeted fall prevention interventions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized implementation science principles across two large pediatric quaternary hospitals.
• Conducted environmental assessments to identify existing gaps in fall safety protocols.
• Integrated interprofessional stakeholder feedback to inform the development of practice recommendations.

Main Results:

• Identified key barriers and proposed tangible interventions across equipment, environment, and personnel categories.
• Highlighted the importance of comprehensive environmental inclusion, high reliability principles, and parent partnerships.
• Developed a framework for environmental assessment to guide future fall safety improvements.

Conclusions:

• An evidence-based approach and environmental assessment are crucial for improving pediatric ambulatory fall safety.
• Further guidance and support from research, regulatory bodies, and healthcare organizations are essential.
• This work provides a foundation for developing and implementing effective fall reduction strategies.