Slip, Slip, No Way!

Project Topic:

Decreasing patient falls

Hospital, City and State:

Methodist Texsan, San Antonio, Texas

Unit:

Telemetry

CSI Participants:

• Laney Caudle, BSN, RN
• Lisa Carver, ADN, RN

Project Goals/Objectives:

1. Educate staff on fall prevention bundle
2. Decrease falls 3%
3. Increase gait belt scanning 3%
4. Increase non-slip sock scanning 3%
5. Increase the Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool (HWEAT) score for Skilled Communication 5%

Project Outcomes:

1. Falls increased 33%
2. HWEAT Skilled Communication score increased 5%
3. Three additional HWEAT standard scores increased

Project Overview:

Our unit identified that patient fall rates were increasing and our project focus was to educate staff on the fall prevention bundle and monitor the gait belt and non-slip sock scanning usage. Prior to the project, staff communicated that gait belts and non-slip socks were not readily available at the bedside.

Multiple barriers were encountered during our project time, including high nursing turnover and turnover within our CSI team, and accreditation surveyors on site. While our fall rates did not decrease during the timeframe of our project, we are refining interventions to include monitoring bed alarm engagement and call light response times. With the increase in skilled communication from the HWEAT, we are optimistic that we will be able to see patient falls decrease over time.