Augmenting an Inpatient Fall Program With Video Observation

Abstract

Background: 

Keeping patients safe is a goal for all health care facilities. Facilities should look at technology as a way to help improve outcomes. Patient falls are a dangerous, costly, and preventable health care–associated event.

Local Problem: 

The fall rate on the host facility's orthopedic unit was 2.6 per 1000 patient-days.

Methods: 

Patients on an inpatient orthopedic unit who had a fall risk score greater than 13, based on the Johns Hopkins Fall Risk Assessment Tool, were provided with an added intervention, video observation.

Intervention: 

Video observation units with 2-way communication were introduced to help prevent patient falls.

Results: 

The fall rate per 1000 patient-days after implementing this intervention for 6 weeks was 0 falls per 1000 patient-days.

Conclusions: 

There was a 100% decrease in patient falls on the inpatient unit where video observation was implemented.