Robert Potter
Texas Health Harris Methodist- Azle, USA
Title: Can falls in the Emergency Department be prevented?
Biography
Biography: Robert Potter
Abstract
Falls in the Emergency Department (ED) are a concern for most hospitals. Since 2005 the Texas Health Harris Methodist-Azle ED volume has been increasing and so has the number of patient falls. In 2012 the department experienced on average one fall every month. While the total number of falls was small, it was felt by nursing leadership that one fall is too many. The ED Director formed as task force of staff to examine each fall in 2012 to determine what factors impacted the patient fall and developed an action plan to address each of these. The plan was implemented in the first quarter of 2013 which resulted in a decrease of the number of falls. In the first quarter of 2014 there was an increase again in the number of falls and it was determined that this was attributed to staff turnover. Education was provided again to all staff and the subsequent quarters of that year had a decrease in the number of falls. In the first three quarters of 2015 there have been a total of 6 falls. By doing a root cause analysis (RCA) of each fall it was determined where there were opportunities to improve and education of the staff on these areas has resulted in a decrease in the number of falls.