Falls Prevention Month: Joseph Brant Hospital's approach to falls prevention and management

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations among Canadian older adults; 20-30% fall each year. An evidence-based hospital falls prevention strategy is a key component of patient safety, helping them avoid injuries that could keep them in hospital longer.

At Joseph Brant Hospital, our strategy includes a Falls Prevention Policy that outlines best practices to prevent falls, as well as standardized approach to falls prevention and management throughout the hospital. This policy is updated on an ongoing basis to reflect evolving evidence and best practices.

Sandy and Victoria, two Charge Nurses in our Acute Medicine Unit, were involved in updating and implementing the changes in this policy this past year.

“The policy is important as falls can result in fractures, lacerations, bleeding and ultimately change the course or length of stay for our patients,” said Sandy. “Falls also lead to an increase in health care resources. By managing a patient's underlying risk factors, we can increase positive outcomes for our patients and decrease our length of stay to be able to provide timely care to new patients coming into the hospital.”

Sandy and Victoria also educate staff on policy changes to ensure that safe practices are understood by all.

“Our role as Charge Nurses in implementing this policy is to be supportive and help mentor other nurses,” said Victoria. “We lead team safety huddles, identify high falls risk patients and ensure that we have appropriate interventions in place to help mitigate falls.”

The updated policy is based on the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario’s Clinical Best Practice Guidelines, Preventing Falls and Reducing Injury from Falls and outlines important falls prevention strategies such as completing a falls risk assessment within 12 hours of being admitting to the unit. It also outlines a standardized comprehensive set of interventions targeted at being proactive in preventing falls. Should a fall occur, a detailed reference tool outlining post-fall procedures and post-fall huddles was designed to help support staff, patients and families.

“As the population in Burlington is aging, I’m proud that JBH continues to improve initiatives to ensure good patient outcomes.”

Thank you Victoria and Sandy for your work in helping to develop the new policy, and for providing patient-centred care each and every day.

During Fall Prevention Month we highlight the commitment of all our Joseph Brant Hospital staff and thank them for their role in helping to prevent patient falls and fall-related injuries each and every day.