General Construction Fall Prevention Policy

The following paper is a written critique of the following research article “Improving the evaluation of risk of fall through clinical supervision: an evidence” (Cruza, Carvalhoa, Lopesb, 2016). The purpose of this critique is to analyze, evaluate, and review each section of the above stated quantitative research article. This quantitative, descriptive and correlational study focuses on improving patient safety and quality of nursing care by improving the evaluation of a patients' fall risk using the Morse Fall Scale (MFS) assessment tool in practice under the implementation of a clinical supervision model. (CS)

Falls are a big concern for all employees in a hospital setting daily. The worst thing that can happen to a patient while being hospitalized is a fall, or a major fall, that could result in skin damage (i.e. wounds, skin tears, or abrasions), a fracture or break, thus limiting their independence. This student’s goal was to develop a way to educate staff members in ways they can help reduce the number of falls that occur. Developing a sample Fall Risk Prevention Policy as well as a Staff in-service on fall risk and Prevention achieved this goal.

Most hospitalized patients of 65 years and above have been established to be more vulnerable to falling within their homes or in a facility. These falls have been attributed to various causative agents that need to be assessed and managed in an attempt to completely avert falls (Wilbert, 2010). Prevention of falls should be mandatory since they cause more danger to patients, including breakage of the main bones and even death. As a result, the patient may develop a more serious condition such as decrease functional immobility in addition to that which caused hospitalization. Most of these falls have been found to be caused by therapeutic impacts and ignored diagnostic information (Naqvi, Lee & Fields, 2009). For instance, a great number of elderly people who are hospitalized are diagnosed with dementia at the time of admission; hence, such information needs to be taken into consideration during the care of such a patient. Dementia is likely to cause disorientation and confusion which may result in recurrent falls. Therefore, falls may be described as the abrupt and unintended loss of uprightness that leads to body displacement towards the ground falls (Wilbert, 2010). The purpose of this paper is to develop a falls prevention, management program that will reduce the number of falls occurring within an organization.

This work has significance because staff and patient education can help prevent falls. Specific interventions decrease falls. Nurses have a responsibility to their patients and their facility to be competent and confident in their abilities to do all that they can to prevent falls. Facilities have the responsibility to provide the tools and the training that is required to carry out fall prevention

At Brigham and Woman Hospital, this fall prevention program has been instituted throughout the facility. The protocol requires all patients to be screened for fall risk factors upon their admission to the hospital. Upon admission, nurses must conduct a throughout medical assessment, and use the Morse Fall Scale to assess patients mobility, muscle strength, gait, vision of patients because those conditions can put patients at increase risk for falls. At the end of each assessment, a number is provided to each patient determining the degree of fall and documented in the patient chart. For example, a patient might be a low risk for fall while another might at high risk for fall. In addition, the nurse must create a plan of care and

Training about universal fall precautions will be provided to the staffs to ensure effective implementation

In USA, one in three adults over age 65 suffer fall while 20% to 30% experience moderate to severe injuries (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). In 2010, the cost of falls among elderly people for US health care system was over $30 billion (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). Over the last few decades the rate of fall related deaths in USA has sharply been escalating. Many older adults have developed the fear of falling, limiting their social activity and forcing them to live in fear. Some adults suffer lacerations, fracture and trauma during fall, deteriorating their quality of life.

When asked to compare the policies of the clinical facility to that of the best-practice recommendations the following was revealed. First, the acute-care facility does utilize a fall risk assessment similar to that of the Morse fall scale. The patient is then identified as a fall risk one, two, or three. Based on the score, basic fall interventions are required. For example, a fall risk one requires safety rounds every two hours whereas a fall risk three require hourly safety

Falls are considered a leading cause of mortality and injury among older adults and majority of the falls occurs while hospitalized. One would think being in the hospital would be one of the safest places for older adults as far as fall prevention is concern due to the fact that hospitals provide staffing around the clock for patients but more and more falls have been occurring in the hospital especially in the older adult population. Fall is an unintended descent to the ground. It raises public and family care liability; it also decreases patient’s functioning because it causes pain and suffering, and increases medical costs (Saverino et al, 2015). The Center for Disease Control

Falls are highly common amongst the elderly, particularly those who lack mobility, are in hospital, or are living in a nursing home. When an elderly person falls, their activities of daily living may be impacted due to injuries sustained from the fall. It is essential that precautions are put in place to prevent falls in all settings. This essay will discuss the statistics surrounding falls, prevention strategies, and the impacts of a fall on a patient’s ability to complete activities of daily living.

There are a few pressing health problems that Yolo county faces. One of them in particular are seniors who falls at home only to be hospitalized and discharged without any means of prevention for another fall. The article, “Top Yolo concerns: Seniors’ falls, kids’ dental decay, mental health” by Anne Ternus-Bellamy indicates that two thirds of of patients hospitalized for falls in Yolo County are over the age of 65. The false that were noted were considered to be preventable through the means of addressing home safety, visual impairment, and medication. It does not cost much at all to initiate the prevention sequence compared to actually treating falls. If Yolo county continues to not inform individuals the means of prevention in terms of falling, then there is going to be a steady cost of “treatment of falls” in Yolo county which could be minimized at a substantial rate.

This outcome reduces potential injury of fall in a primary care setting and a hospitalization, prevents additional financial strain on patients and their families by protecting the patients’ healing process and reducing unwarranted hospitalization and the length of staying in the hospital. The outcome can also benefit staff and the health care facility by preventing unnecessary staff burnout and injury, and reducing cost spending in providing unwarranted care that reduces profit and increase

According to the Joint Commission Resources-JCR (2005), there is no universally accepted definition of a fall. Thus several definitions have been floated over time in an attempt to define the same. One such definition of a fall is "an untoward event that results in the patient or resident coming to rest unintentionally on the ground or another lower surface" (Joint Commission Resources, 2005). Falls are regarded common causes of injury at every age. However, it is important to note that for seniors, falls can have serious consequences. This is more so the case given that a fall can bring about pain, trauma, or even death. With that in mind, the primary purpose of this program remains the reduction of falls and hence the aversion of related injuries amongst the concerned patients. Of key importance remains the identification of patients who appear to be at high risk of falling. This way, appropriate strategies can be developed to reduce the injuries related to inpatient falls.

The paper will discuss falls prevention in the older adult over the age of 55 and new and alternative interventions for fall prevention compared to current practice. The desired outcome of the paper is to provide information for fall prevention and, therefore, decrease the occurrence of falls. First, in order to understand the importance falls have within the clinical setting, statistics showing the mortality, morbidity and financial impact should be understood. The occurrence of falls within the acute care setting is a growing problem among the elderly. The evidence shows that one in three people aged 65 or older will sustain a fall and that only half will report the fall to a caregiver (CDC, 2014). The number increases to one in two when the patient reaches the age of 80. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines a fall when a person unintentionally comes to rest on the ground or another lower level. Falls are not an inevitable part of aging, however, aging does influence such things as reduced mobility, comorbidities, and cognitive impairment which contribute to fall risk. Falls are one of the leading causes of injuries in the acute care setting. The injuries sustained from falls leads to increased hospital stay time and a chance for further injuries which may harm the patient (CDC, 2014). According to the CDC in 2013, 2.5 million people suffered a fall, of these falls 734,000 were hospitalized. The falls also resulted in 22,900 people dying from fall

Qualitative data analysis was obtained in this study in which eight major themes were revealed. The overall perception includes past falls, fall risks, and fear of fall-related injuries. (Shuman, 2016). Overall, the initial perception of the patients was they did not receive fall prevention information. As the interview continues the participants were able to give examples of fall preventions given to them by the healthcare providers’. The data analysis supports the conclusion that healthcare providers need provide clarity to patients and family member in order to prevent falls.