Other Titles
Preventing falls using evidence-based practice
Abstract
Patient falls have been identified as a potentially preventable, nurse sensitive outcome. Routine assessment of fall risk is required by the Joint Commission (2015). The rate of falls in the United States is approximately 3.5 falls per 1,000 patient days, with 1 injurious fall per 1,000 patient days. They are the most commonly reported adverse events in hospitals, constituting approximately 40% reports. Patient falls delay recovery, cause psychological harm and can decrease independence and mobility due to either physical harm or fear of falling again. As of October, 2008, Medicare no longer provides reimbursement for care required due to inpatient falls. The first step in fall prevention is identification of individuals at risk. The MSF has been studied extensively and has demonstrated good sensitivity and negative predictive value. The majority of the studies of, or utilizing, the MFS have used a measurement at a single point in time. However, repeated observations are required in most institutions. Most facilities, including the VA Boston HealthCare System require repeated measurements during the patient"s hospitalization, ranging between every 48 hours to as often as every shift. However, there is little evidence to support the frequency at which the assessment should be done. The research question for this study is; What is the efficacy of repeated MFS measurements in hospitalized patients?
Sigma Membership
Theta Alpha
Lead Author Affiliation
Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Falls, Hospitalized Adults, Risk Assessment
Recommended Citation
Harrington, Mary Beth, "Evaluation of the efficacy of repeat falls risk assessments using the Morse Falls Scale" (2017). INRC (Congress). 376.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2017/presentations_2017/376
Conference Name
28th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Dublin, Ireland
Conference Year
2017
Rights Holder
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Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Evaluation of the efficacy of repeat falls risk assessments using the Morse Falls Scale
Dublin, Ireland
Patient falls have been identified as a potentially preventable, nurse sensitive outcome. Routine assessment of fall risk is required by the Joint Commission (2015). The rate of falls in the United States is approximately 3.5 falls per 1,000 patient days, with 1 injurious fall per 1,000 patient days. They are the most commonly reported adverse events in hospitals, constituting approximately 40% reports. Patient falls delay recovery, cause psychological harm and can decrease independence and mobility due to either physical harm or fear of falling again. As of October, 2008, Medicare no longer provides reimbursement for care required due to inpatient falls. The first step in fall prevention is identification of individuals at risk. The MSF has been studied extensively and has demonstrated good sensitivity and negative predictive value. The majority of the studies of, or utilizing, the MFS have used a measurement at a single point in time. However, repeated observations are required in most institutions. Most facilities, including the VA Boston HealthCare System require repeated measurements during the patient"s hospitalization, ranging between every 48 hours to as often as every shift. However, there is little evidence to support the frequency at which the assessment should be done. The research question for this study is; What is the efficacy of repeated MFS measurements in hospitalized patients?