Fall Rates Fall

Falls can lead to injury and death and are a cause of adverse events within the hospital. Unfortunately, in-hospital interventions generally have not prevented falls.

Researchers conducted a cluster-randomized trial of a fall-prevention strategy, the Fall Prevention Tool Kit (FPTK), at four hospitals in a Boston health system. The FPTK consisted of an online form, based on a standardized instrument for fall risk assessment, which was completed by caregivers; entered data were used to prepare printable patient education handouts, plans of care, and bedside posters with graphics to communicate fall-prevention strategies to all stakeholders. Medical units at the same hospital were paired by similar fall rates and were assigned randomly to eithe…