Partnering With Patients: Fall Prevention Agreement.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Hospital-acquired falls pose a significant risk to patient safety, particularly in high-acuity settings.
• Engaging patients and families as active participants in care is increasingly recognized as crucial for improving outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a fall prevention agreement in a cardiac progressive care unit.
• To foster a collaborative partnership between healthcare providers, patients, and families for fall risk reduction.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of a formal fall prevention agreement.
• Patient and family engagement strategies initiated upon admission.
• Data collection on fall incidence pre- and post-implementation.

Main Results:

• Significant decrease in patient falls observed after the implementation of the agreement.
• Positive impact on fall reduction metrics within the cardiac progressive care unit.

Conclusions:

• A fall prevention agreement is an effective strategy for reducing falls in cardiac progressive care units.
• Engaging patients and families as partners enhances the success of fall prevention initiatives.