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Patient Falls In Hospitals: Reducing the Risk
Posted by: Craig Knapp
May 11, 2011

Patient falls is one of the most common incidents reported in hospitals and are a leading cause of death for people aged 65 and older. According to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, as many as half of those people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries that limit mobility and independence and increase the risk of premature death.

For decades, hospitals have worked to understand what causes patients to fall and have worked to prevent them. However, hospitals didn't start feeling pressure until The Joint Commission added National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) and required hospitals and other settings to abide by them.

If a patient is at risk of falling in the hospital, it should be documented and the nurses should be aware of it. Some things that hospitals do to prevent falls with patients are: using restraints, always having someone in the room (this could mean more than one nurse is responsible for the patient), and bed alarms which sound when someone tries to get up.

In addition to preventative measures that hospitals take, The Joint Commission also released a brochure explaining further methods you or your loved one can take to reduce the risk of falling in hospitals:

1)  Use your call button to ask for help getting out of bed if you feel unsteady.

2)  Ask for help going to the bathroom or walking around the room or in hallways.

3)  Wear non-slip socks or footwear.

4)  Lower the height of the bed and the side rails.

5)  Make sure the hospital staff is aware that you are a "Fall Risk."

Talk to your doctor if your medicine makes you sleepy, light-headed, sluggish or confused. Ask how to reduce these side effects or if you can take another medicine.

Despite you or your loved one's attempt at fall prevention, falls can still happen. If you think that a healthcare facility was negligent in providing proper safety measures for you or your loved one, please feel free to contact us. Knapp & Roberts has the expert advice and experience to help you find out your rights and work toward preventing other patient falls in the future.

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