40221 Falls Prevention in Healthcare Settings

Course overview

Focuses on preventing falls in healthcare settings. Topics discussed include identifying risk factors related to falls, the significance and negative impacts of falls on individuals as well as healthcare systems, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Clinical Practice Guidelines for fall prevention, safety interventions that can be implemented to mitigate falls in the home and healthcare settings, best practices for fall prevention in healthcare settings, and how to incorporate these best practices into a fall prevention program. Between 700,000 and one million individuals in the United States fall in the hospital each year, leading to potentially harmful consequences such as fractures, internal bleeding, and increased healthcare costs. One out of five falls results in a serious injury, such as a fracture or head injury, and more than 95 percent of hip fractures occur secondary to a fall. Research has demonstrated that approximately one-third of falls can be prevented by utilizing techniques such as management of underlying risk factors and ensuring an optimal physical design and environment in healthcare settings. Fall prevention requires a multidisciplinary approach to care, including an organizational culture and practices that promote teamwork, communication, and expertise. It is critical that hospitals have a fall prevention program in place in order for best patient outcomes related to falls to be achieved. This program discusses the significance and negative impacts of falls on individuals as well as healthcare systems, risk factors related to falls, safety interventions to mitigate falls in the home and healthcare settings, and best practices for fall prevention in healthcare settings, including how to incorporate these into a fall prevention program.