Fall Prevention

Patient falls, an unplanned descent to the floor that results with or without injury to the patient, affect upward of 1,000,000 patients each year and ranks among the most frequently reported incidents in hospitals and other health care facilities (AHRQ, 2013). Among adults aged 65 or greater, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death, the most common cause of non-fatal injuries and the leading cause of hospital admissions for trauma (CDC, 2015). Fall risk and the associated injury and cost are challenges within health care facilities and in the community. A patient fall can increase the length of stay, increase health care utilization, increase costs and result in poorer health outcomes.
Falls are among the most common adverse events reported in hospitals. The evidence is strong to support the benefit of multi-factorial fall prevention programs for injurious falls in acute care.

Resources for Fall Prevention:
Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging Stepping On Fall Reduction Program