Reducing patient falls

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Falls Minimisation Project

Project lead – Susan McHugh

 
The Waikato DHB patient safety campaign has set the target of reducing harm caused by patient falls by 10 per cent
 
Project work continues to focus on raising awareness of patient falls minimisation, improved staff, patient and carer knowledge, plus the promotion of a multi- disciplinary approach to reducing patient harm through falling

A fall prevention ‘tool kit’, developed from trials and introductions of a variety of best practise interventions includes:

• visual mapping of falls incidents (in line with the productive series)
• non-slip socks
• sensor and cushioned mats
• ultra low beds
• prescription of Vitamin D
• introduction of muscle strengthening/exercise groups
• Falls focus groups and falls champions.

All interventions have received positive feedback from staff, management, patients and carers and more importantly are making a positive difference to patient safety and falls minimisation As the programme of work moves forward, there continues to be two key areas, agreed and supported by the Board of Clinical Governance and Health Waikato Executive. Increase compliance with the Falls Procedure Continue to identify falls reduction hazards or products for purchase/hire and/or implementation into the services. The DHB has established a high level ‘falls’ minimisation committee, which meets monthly and a specialist DHB wide falls expert reference group meets quarterly both with agreed terms of reference.

Fall Prevention Programme users' guide

The present focus is on the consolidation of falls assessment and management documents and auditing tools/processes, based on national and international best practise. Learning and communication plans will enable a robust roll out across the DHB, including aged and related residential care.

The DHB has adopted and has implemented the validated Hendrich II fall risk model for in patient Falls Assessment, Minimisation and Management, (documents and auditing tools/processes), which is based on causative factors and improved critical thinking – a problem solving approach to falls minimisation instead of risk identification and reporting functions only.

This piece of work, developed in partnership - collaboration with an international organisation, has involved the delivery of 24/7 web based education programmes.

The web based materials importantly include patient/carer education and an in- built, robust educational monitoring system and data analysis systems.

The facilities provide colleagues with the information/ability to more robustly track staff education status and details of falls incidents within the DHB.

Media release

• Rapid Response System for Serious and Sentinel Events