The Challenge of Reducing Patient Falls in Hospitals
Authors: Cathy C. Schubert
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2020)

Editorials3 March 2020The Challenge of Reducing Patient Falls in HospitalsCathy C. Schubert, MDCathy C. Schubert, MDIndiana University School of Medicine and Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana (C.C.S.)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M19-4005 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail A fall is defined as an event resulting in a person coming to rest inadvertently on the ground or another lower level (1). Patient falls in health care settings are serious, widespread, and often complicated and multifactorial. Rates in U.S. hospitals range from 3.3 to 11.5 falls per 1000 patient-days (2). Patient death or serious injury associated with a fall while in a health care setting is considered a "never event" by the National Quality Forum and the Joint Commission, and in 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services stopped reimbursing hospitals for treatment of injuries resulting from a ...References1. World Health Organization. Falls. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018. Accessed at www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/falls on 20 December 2019. Google Scholar2. Bouldin EL, Andresen EM, Dunton NE, et al. Falls among adult patients hospitalized in the United States: prevalence and trends. J Patient Saf. 2013;9:13-7. [PMID: 23143749] doi:10.1097/PTS.0b013e3182699b64 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Patient Safety Primer: Never Events. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2019. Accessed at https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primer/never-events on 20 December 2019. Google Scholar4. Greeley AM, Tanner EP, Mak S, et al. Sitters as a patient safety strategy to reduce hospital falls. A systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2020;172:317-24. doi:10.7326/M19-2628 LinkGoogle Scholar5. Ganz DA, Huang C, Saliba D, et al. Preventing Falls in Hospitals: A Toolkit for Improving Quality of Care. AHRQ publication no. 13-0015-EF. (Prepared by RAND Corporation, Boston University School of Public Health, and ECRI Institute under contract no. HHSA290201000017I TO #1.) Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2013. Accessed at https://psnet.ahrq.gov/issue/preventing-falls-hospitals-toolkit-improving-quality-care on 20 December 2019. Google Scholar6. Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Age-Friendly Health Systems. Boston: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; 2019. Accessed at www.ihi.org/Engage/Initiatives/Age-Friendly-Health-Systems/Pages/default.aspx on 20 December 2019. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Indiana University School of Medicine and Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana (C.C.S.)Disclaimer: Dr. Schubert is employed by the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Indiana University School of Medicine. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. government, or Indiana University.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M19-4005.Corresponding Author: Cathy C. Schubert, MD, 1001 West 10th Street 111, Indianapolis, IN 46202; e-mail, [email protected]edu.This article was published at Annals.org on 4 February 2020. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoSitters as a Patient Safety Strategy to Reduce Hospital Falls Adela M. Greeley , Elizabeth P. Tanner , Selene Mak , Meron M. Begashaw , Isomi M. Miake-Lye , and Paul G. Shekelle Metrics Cited byCreating a Safer Patient Room Environment: The Contribution of Patient Bed Height 3 March 2020Volume 172, Issue 5Page: 356-357KeywordsDeliriumDisclosureElderlyFallsHealth careHealth care facilitiesNursesPatientsSafetySystematic reviews ePublished: 4 February 2020 Issue Published: 3 March 2020 PDF downloadLoading ...