TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2017//
TI  - Evaluation of sensor technology to detect fall risk and prevent falls in acute care
JO  - Joint Commission journal on quality and patient safety
A1  - Potter, Patricia
A1  - Allen, Kelly
A1  - Costantinou, Eileen
A1  - Klinkenberg, William Dean
A1  - Malen, Jill
A1  - Norris, Traci
A1  - O'Connor, Elizabeth
A1  - Roney, Wilhelmina
A1  - Tymkew, Heidi Hahn
A1  - Wolf, Laurie
SP  - 414
EP  - 421
VL  - 43
IS  - 8
N2  - BACKGROUND: Sensor technology that dynamically identifies hospitalized patients' fall risk and detects and alerts nurses of high-risk patients' early exits out of bed has potential for reducing fall rates and preventing patient harm. During Phase 1 (August 2014-January 2015) of a previously reported performance improvement project, an innovative depth sensor was evaluated on two inpatient medical units to study fall characteristics. In Phase 2 (April 2015-January 2016), a combined depth and bed sensor system designed to assign patient fall probability, detect patient bed exits, and subsequently prevent falls was evaluated. <br><br>METHODS: Fall detection depth sensors remained in place on two medicine units; bed sensors used to detect patient bed exits were added on only one of the medicine units. Fall rates and fall with injury rates were evaluated on both units. <br><br>RESULTS: During Phase 2, the designated evaluation unit had 14 falls, for a fall rate of 2.22 per 1,000 patient-days-a 54.1% reduction compared with the Phase 1 fall rate. The difference in rates from Phase 1 to Phase 2 was statistically significant (z = 2.20; p = 0.0297). The comparison medicine unit had 30 falls-a fall rate of 4.69 per 1,000 patient-days, representing a 57.9% increase as compared with Phase 1. <br><br>CONCLUSION: A fall detection sensor system affords a level of surveillance that standard fall alert systems do not have. Fall prevention remains a complex issue, but sensor technology is a viable fall prevention option.<br><br>Copyright © 2017 The Joint Commission. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1553-7250
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2017.05.003
ID  - ref1
ER  -