Sample procedures & tools
Fall rate calculations
Sample calculation
Fall rate calculation (.doc) (25 KB)
Online calculator- Return on investment for safe lifting programs*
A new online calculator is available that estimates a potential "Return On
Investment" (ROI) from the implementation of a safe lifting program to help
justify the investment of time, training, and capital equipment. Liko, Inc.
has made this available at their Safe Lifting Portal:
http://www.SafeLiftingPortal.com/calculator.
For more information visit:
http://www.SafeLiftingPortal.com
or call 888.545.6671.
Case history – fall measurement
A case study from the Northeast Health System (NHS), Beverly, MA, with an accompanying chart, demonstrate how falls, interventions and improvements were measured and compared internally and benchmarked with the QI Project.
Download case history from NHS. (.doc) (41 KB)
Download Figure 1 accompanying NHS case history. (.bmp) (845 KB)
Risk scale, charts, policies
Risk factor list
Risk factor S 4 (.doc) (28 KB)
University Texas Houston Health Science Center policy and procedure
UTHSC policy and procedures – fall interventions (.doc) (140 KB)
Tool kits
General fall prevention
CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) - Tool kits
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control has current technical information and excellent materials about falls and fall-related injuries that can be used on an individual basis or incorporated into health promotion activities aimed at reducing falls among older adults.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/toolkit/toolkit.htm
Hill-ROM - Morse instrument and fall scale
A comprehensive training program on the use of the Morse Instrument and Fall Scale has been made available through Hill-Rom. A copy can be requested by sending an email to safetyprograms@hill-rom.com. For more information visit:
http://www.hill-rom.com/usa/Safety_PatientFalls.htm
Hill-ROM - Patient safety webinars
Free webinars for caregivers to achieve better outcomes, including No Falls, Clear Lungs (prevent VAP) , and Safe Skin™ Program . For more information, visit:
http://www.hill-rom.com/usa/PatientSafety_webinars.htm
VA National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS)
Additional tools and instruments to use to prevent patient falls are available from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Patient Safety.
http://www.patientsafety.gov/SafetyTopics/fallstoolkit/
Tool kit to "Minimize the risk of falls and falls injuries"
The Victorian Quality Council of Australia has developed a tool kit: "Minimizing the risk of falls and falls injuries: Guidelines for acute, sub-acute and residential care settings" to provide a framework model and supporting resources to support falls prevention activity in hospital and residential care settings. The guideline packet and all toolkit files are downloadable files and include research findings, tools, posters and other educational materials. An instruction manual accompanies the sample spreadsheet report that can be downloaded and used to track falls data, analyze trends, and present data from falls incident reports.
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/qualitycouncil/pub/improve/falls.htm
Tool kit to prevent senior falls
Includes the fact sheets, graphs and brochures about falls and fall prevention for older adults
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/toolkit/toolkit.htm
Tips to prevent falls - What YOU can do to prevent falls
Patient-oriented tips based on principle that falls are not just the result of getting older, and are usually caused by a number of things.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/spotlite/falls.htm
U.S. Fall Prevention Programs for Seniors tool kit – Programs
Using Home
Assessment and Modification
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control describes fall prevention programs for U.S. seniors that research show are important components of effective programs: education, home assessment or environmental fall hazards, and access to home modification and/or repair services. These programs may provide models for agencies or organizations that want to develop fall prevention programs for older adults in community settings. Each chapter may be downloaded separately. For example, the appendix on Home Safety Checklists is an excellent resource.
Check For Safety: A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults
Download the brochure (.pdf) (831 KB), or go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/toolkit/brochures.htm
Merck Institute of Aging and Health Web site - Falls Toolkit
The Falls Toolkit is used for the initial evaluation and management of a patient who experiences falls, and provides educational materials to teach patients how to reduce their risk of falling. Falls in older adults can sometimes lead to permanent disability, fear of leaving home and loss of independence. The five professional tools and 17 educational tools included in the Falls Toolkit will help physicians evaluate a patient's risk of falling, and teach patients how to reduce such a risk.
http://www.gericareonline.net/tools/eng/falls/
National Institute on Aging (NIA) – Tool Kit to prevent senior falls - Exercise
http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/ExerciseGuide/
Bed safety
ECRI - Bed system entrapment assessment kit
Kit includes the tool designed by the Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup. ECRI is providing distribution of the kit, which includes, for example, the assessment kit, checklists and videotapes. Information is provided on how to obtain the kit.
FDA hospital bed safety guidance
FDA Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup (HBSW) Guidance March 2006
The FDA Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup’s (HBSW), final guidance on hospital ed design, "Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff; Hospital Bed System Dimensional and Assessment Guidance to Reduce Entrapment."
FDA Final guidance March 2006 (.pdf) (860 KB)
Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup (HBSW) modifying bed systems June 2006
The HBSW's "A Guide for Modifying Bed Systems and Using Accessories to Reduce the Risk of Entrapment," was released by the HBSW in June 2006, and focuses on modifying bed systems using add-on or replacement equipment and accessories to reduce the entrapment risks posed by openings in existing bed systems.
FDA Guidance Mofdifying Bed Systems (.pdf) (500 KB)
HBSW Bed safety entrapment kit
This kit contains information and tools that can be used to assess the risk of entrapment in hospital beds.
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/beds/entrapmentkit.html
ASHE - Advisory on bed safety and HBSW
Although the FDA documents are useful, the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) notes that an initial patient risk assessment remains a key initial step to bed safety procedures. See ASHE Advisory.
ASHE Advisory (.pdf) (72 KB)