@article{ref1,
title="Do no harm: a multifactorial approach to preventing emergency department falls-a quality improvement project",
journal="Journal of emergency nursing",
year="2020",
author="Cook, Nicole S. and Komansky, Brittany J. and Urton, Michael S.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Patient falls in the emergency department are a unique patient safety issue because of the often challenging nature of the environment. As there are a variety of potential causative factors for patient falls in the emergency department, this project employed a multifactorial approach to prevent patient falls in a Level 1 trauma center emergency department (adult only) in an urban tertiary care teaching hospital.   METHODS: This project was a single-unit quality improvement intervention that compared postintervention monthly unit-level data to historic monthly rates on the same unit. The intervention was multifaceted with patient-level, nurse-level, and unit-level interventions employed. A task force was convened to review and identify specific departmental gaps related to fall prevention, complete a retrospective review of departmental patient falls to determine causative factors, and implement interventions to reduce ED falls. A comprehensive program consisting of an ED-specific fall risk assessment tool, remote video monitoring (RVM), stretcher alarms, and a robust patient safety culture, among other interventions, was implemented. Patient falls and falls with injuries were tracked as an outcome measure.   RESULTS: After data driven analysis of causation, selection of key interventions, staff education, and sustained focus for 2 years, the department experienced a 27% decrease in falls and a 66% decrease in falls with injuries.   DISCUSSION: A multifactorial approach was an effective strategy to decrease patient falls in the emergency department.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0099-1767",
doi="10.1016/j.jen.2020.03.007",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2020.03.007"
}