Reduce the future risk of falls and injury in patients using bed alarms

Abstract (300 words maximum)

Abstract

Background: Patients are prone to serious injuries or even death related to falls in hospitals. Falls usually happen when patients are in their rooms, transferring from the bed to the chair or the restroom without proper assistance. These falls are often preventable with the proper use of bed alarms. Patient beds equipped with alarms alert staff when patients who are at risk of falls attempt to get out of bed on their own. To make sure the bed alarms serve their purpose in protecting patients, hospital staff must assess functionality of each alarm every two hours.

Brief Literature review: Bed alarms have been shown to help decrease fall rates in hospitalized patients. However, staff cannot be dependent on bed alarms itself. In the span of three weeks, there has been three reported falls on the unit. In one case, a patient was found with the bed alarm not plugged into the wall. In another event, it was found that a patient at risk for falls was disarming her bed alarm and unplugging her own bed. Studies have shown that hourly rounding can reduce fall rates in hospitalized patients.

Method: In attempts to reduce fall rates in hospitalized patients, routine bed alarm assessments will be implemented. Staff will be responsible for insuring bed alarms are plugged in and working as expected at the beginning of every shift change. In patients with fall risks, bed alarm assessments should be completed, and patients should be checked on hourly.

Evaluation: The effectiveness of bed alarm assessments can be evaluated with assessment checkoffs in conjunction with bi-weekly fall reports. The goal is to decrease fall rates to 0 percent.

Keywords: falls, patients, bed alarms, injury, prevention, rounding

Academic department under which the project should be listed

WCHHS - Nursing

Primary Investigator (PI) Name

Jan Turner

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Reduce the future risk of falls and injury in patients using bed alarms

Abstract

Background: Patients are prone to serious injuries or even death related to falls in hospitals. Falls usually happen when patients are in their rooms, transferring from the bed to the chair or the restroom without proper assistance. These falls are often preventable with the proper use of bed alarms. Patient beds equipped with alarms alert staff when patients who are at risk of falls attempt to get out of bed on their own. To make sure the bed alarms serve their purpose in protecting patients, hospital staff must assess functionality of each alarm every two hours.

Brief Literature review: Bed alarms have been shown to help decrease fall rates in hospitalized patients. However, staff cannot be dependent on bed alarms itself. In the span of three weeks, there has been three reported falls on the unit. In one case, a patient was found with the bed alarm not plugged into the wall. In another event, it was found that a patient at risk for falls was disarming her bed alarm and unplugging her own bed. Studies have shown that hourly rounding can reduce fall rates in hospitalized patients.

Method: In attempts to reduce fall rates in hospitalized patients, routine bed alarm assessments will be implemented. Staff will be responsible for insuring bed alarms are plugged in and working as expected at the beginning of every shift change. In patients with fall risks, bed alarm assessments should be completed, and patients should be checked on hourly.

Evaluation: The effectiveness of bed alarm assessments can be evaluated with assessment checkoffs in conjunction with bi-weekly fall reports. The goal is to decrease fall rates to 0 percent.

Keywords: falls, patients, bed alarms, injury, prevention, rounding

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