Implementation of a Continuous Video Monitoring Program to Decrease Inpatient Falls in a Long-Term Acute Care...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Hospital Operations

Background:

• Continuous video monitoring (CVM) is effective in short-term acute care hospitals.
• Its impact on long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) remains understudied.
• This study investigates CVM in the LTACH setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a CVM program in an LTACH.
• To assess the program's effect on inpatient falls and 1:1 sitter utilization.
• To analyze the associated cost impacts of CVM implementation.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational cohort study design.
• Data collected over 20 months (Feb 2021-Sep 2022) in a US LTACH.
• Compared inpatient falls and 1:1 sitter hours with 20 months of historical data (Jun 2019-Jan 2021).

Main Results:

• Inpatient falls decreased significantly from 17.2 to 12.9 falls per month (P=0.02).
• 1:1 sitter hours dropped dramatically from 1,428 to 140 hours per month (P<0.001).
• Estimated cost savings exceeded $3.2 million due to reduced labor and falls.

Conclusions:

• CVM implementation benefited both patients and the hospital.
• CVM is a cost-effective strategy for reducing falls in LTACHs.
• Continuous video monitoring enhances patient safety and reduces sitter dependency in LTACH settings.