Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Defying The Gravity Of Falls On Msu, Alvin Joseph Abad

Master's Projects and Capstones

Falls are a leading cause of injury and death for adult males in the United States and have been an ongoing problem on the Medical Surgical Unit (MSU). Therefore, the aim of this project is to increase fall prevention education and communication on MSU in order to ultimately improve fall rates. Although there are currently fall prevention processes already in place, these may not be sufficient as demonstrated by recent fall metrics. Many RNs on MSU are fairly new nurses; and their enthusiasm and adaptability may be an advantage for this evidence-based project. Furthermore, the management team seems to be …

The Relationship Between Fall Rates And Fall Risk Inducing Drugs In Older Adult Patients In The Hospital Setting, Kristen Eldridge, Susan Kane Patton

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The aim of this study was to analyze the risk of falls relative to the use of fall risk inducing drugs (FRIDs) among older adult patients admitted to the hospital setting. Quality improvement of nursing fall risk assessment was of special interest. To analyze this a retroactive review of fall incident reports was conducted in collaboration with the study hospital’s risk manager. Medications were correlated with injuries sustained to identify high risk FRIDs. The selected study population consisted of 166 patients over the age of 65 who fell on the acute care campus of a hospital in the mid-south region …

Improving Communication To Reduce Patient Falls In A 48-Bed Medical-Surgical Unit, Christian Gella

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

Abstract

Problem: Patient falls has been associated with increased morbidity, mortality and decreased quality of life. The increase in total patient falls for 2018 relative to 2017, and a spike of 10 patient falls for the month of June 2018 from a baseline of 5.3 falls per month has gained greater attention to reduce patient harm from falls while hospitalized. Prevention of falls minimizes patient exposure to the possibility of being injured. Despite efforts to curtail patient falls, improvement in communication is essential to address the safety issues surrounding improving quality of care practices, and consequentially reduce un-reimbursable hospital costs …

Decreasing Falls In A Medical Surgical Unit: A Quality Improvement Project, Ann Chetty

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

The purpose of the project was to decrease the number of falls occurring in the 48-bed medical-surgical unit by building standard work for hourly rounding and communication. Falls are a patient safety issue and are preventable. Since the Institute of Medicine has published “To Err is Human” in 1999, there have been a multitude of studies on falls, yet falls continue to be prevalent in health care organizations. The increase in patient falls adversely impact the patient’s length of stay, discharges to nursing homes and the facility’s reputation for providing safe care. The staff in this microsystem used the …

An Education Intervention To Increase Rounding And Toileting And Reduce Falls In A Hospital Acute Care Of The Elderly (Ace) Unit, Amelia Grayson

Doctoral Projects

Introduction: Falls are the most common accident reported in acute care hospitals and patients who are 65 and older are the most vulnerable. Falls can lead to physical and emotional injury, reduced mobility and functioning, increased length of hospital stay, increased healthcare costs, and admission to long-term care facilities. In 2008, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has eliminated reimbursement to hospitals for treatment of injuries resulting from a fall during hospitalization. Research on fall prevention in adult acute care found multifactorial interventions that address multiple risk factors for falls are the most successful at prevention. This …

An Exploration Of The Association Of Patient Characteristics And Pharmacological Treatments To Inpatient Falls Among Patients At-Risk For Falling During Hospitalization, Julie David, Maria Ojeda, James O. Adefisoye, Winifred Pardo

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Introduction/Background: Falls may be the most commonly reported incidents in the acute care setting, and a frequent cause of harm in the hospital. Studies have focused on identifying risk factors for falls and interventions aimed at reducing the risk of falling. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare patient characteristics and pharmacological treatments between patients who fell and patients who did not fall, among a sample of patients deemed to be at-risk for falling during hospitalization. Additionally, the study aimed to identify independent predictors of falls among patients at-risk for falls during hospitalization.

Methods: An observational, cross-sectional …

Fall Reduction Among The Geriatric Population In Assisted Living Facilities, Marylyn A. Hagerty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Incidents of falls among the elderly increase with age. About $31 million is spent annually in the United States on medical costs related to fall injuries in the elderly. This project evaluated the outcomes of a fall reduction program implemented in an assisted living facility (ALF). The Stop Elderly Accidents, Death & Injury program developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was implemented by the ALF for 60 days prior to the outcome evaluation project. The program included a convenience sample of 62 residents and involved medication evaluation, exercises, assistive devices, environmental risk reduction, and evaluation of blood …

Physical Activity And Fall Prevention In Older Adults, An Educational Intervention, Caleb Daniel Knight

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Falls in adults over 65 years of age constitute a significant health burden in our country, and this age group is growing rapidly. Falls are addressed with a multifactorial approach, addressing comorbidities, medications, and the physical environment, however, an effective point of intervention accessible by most older adults is physical activity. A brief educational presentation about the morbidity and mortality associated with falls, and the protective effects of physical activity, was provided to Meadowbrook Healthcare subacute nursing home residents in Plattsburgh, NY. Questions were encouraged and answered afterwards, and copies of the presentation were left for the residents to review …