The Health Roundtable4-4a_HRT1215-Session_NOWIKI_ PCHosp_QLD

Falls injury prevention is everyone’s business

Presenter: Cherie Franks ND Tracy Nowicki CNC

The Prince Charles Hospital

Innovation Poster SessionHRT1215 – Innovation AwardsSydney 11th and 12th Oct 2012

1

The Health Roundtable

KEY PROBLEMS High incidence of Falls despite falls interventions Aging population Falls projects only have short term benefit Patients being harmed from falls Various levels of falls compliance throughout the hospital Inconsistent falls educational material available throughout

the hospital Falls prevention not having centralised management Staff not engaged with falls 25% of falls related to toileting Bed not suitable for high falls risk patients Current call system not suitable for confused patient Ward staff on transfer of patient not always communicating

effectively that the patient has had a fall

2

The Health Roundtable

AIM OF THIS INNOVATION To ensure Falls injury prevention and management is

EVERYONE’S BUSINESS Falls injury prevention and management is important

to all disciplines: Nursing Directors to AINs and all disciplines

Standardise falls strategies hospital wide by providing resources in various forms with ongoing awareness

Link Falls, Pressure Injuries, Continence and Nutrition: Whole Person Whole Team

To ensure the falls risk patient is safe Identify priority risk in our facility by interrogating the

electronic incident reports Provide strategies to promote effective

communication of the at risk falls patient

3

The Health Roundtable

BASELINE DATA

Development of Program Action Plans

50% of beds throughout hospital are split-side rail beds with low/low function + 20% of beds have low/low function

Introduction of various calls systems i.e. Invisibeam, lanyard, paddle and floor mats

Falls related to inappropriate footwear identified

62% of falls had large skin tears/lacerations 4

The Health Roundtable

KEY CHANGES IMPLEMENTED

Trademarked Falls character Educational materials developed around character Engaged all levels and disciplines of staff in Falls injury

prevention and management Safe footwear now available in hospital café Falls now discussed at a program level Staff engaged in Falls management including Mental

Health Incident reports reviewed daily and feedback to staff and

review of patient Development of a Falls website for staff to access

consistent documentation Introduction of falls notification sticker - 85% compliance

last audit 5

The Health Roundtable

OUTCOMES SO FAR Falls courses now booked out Staff engaged, high involvement in Falls campaign Increased awareness of falls prevention evidenced by

increased incident reporting 84.3% compliance with risk screen assessment Decrease in severe injury 15.7% reduction in falls incidence after one year’s

campaign 36% of falls had large skin tears/lacerations

6

The Health Roundtable

LESSONS LEARNT

Don’t underestimate the value of clever marketing to engage staff and protect patients

Plan education sessions and tap into all disciplines expertise

Providing access to a falls prevention and management service in a centralised department makes falls management sustainable and consistent.

7