A fall in the hospital is a natural worry, especially following surgery. Nationwide, for every thousand days patients spend in the hospital, there are more than three falls. Our fall rate is less than that, which is particularly notable when you consider that many of our patients undergo orthopedic procedures, which puts them at increased risk for falls. Our goal is to entirely eliminate falls, and to do that, we have implemented a unique "falling star" program. You can help us achieve our goal by learning about your own fall risk and doctor's orders about your mobility. Most falls happen when patients try to walk too soon after surgery. We appreciate your cooperation with the "falling star" program.
Benchmark source: California Nursing Outcomes Council (CALNOC)
What we do to prevent falls
- Each patient's risk of falling is assessed daily and whenever there is a change in condition.
- To identify patients who are at risk of falling, we post orange stars outside the door. We also provide orange wrist bands and orange non-skid socks. These orange items provide cues to the staff and family members that the patient may need help walking and getting in and out of bed.
- An individualized safety plan is developed for each patient, which may include posting the patient's fall risk on the communication board in each patient room.
- The patient, family members and visitors are educated about techniques to minimize the likelihood of falling.
What you can do to prevent falls
- Upon admission, inform a member of your health care team of any difficulty you may have with walking and getting in and out of a bed or chair.
- After surgery, do not try to get up without help unless you have been cleared by a doctor, nurse or physical therapist. Most falls occur when patients try to walk too early without help.
- Even if you have been cleared to walk without assistance, inform anyone from your health care team if you begin to feel dizzy or unsteady.
- Wear your eyeglasses and/or hearing aid, if you have one.
- Always wear non-skid socks or shoes when out of bed.
- Report spills or other hazards to your health care team.
- Always use a walking device (cane, walker, crutches) if your physical therapist instructs you to use one.