Fall Prevention: Communication and Teamwork

An abundance of information is available on resident fall risk factors and multidisciplinary interventions aimed at preventing falls. Yet, reducing falls in long term care settings continues to be challenging. One of the reasons for this is that communication failures and lack of teamwork remain a leading root cause of falling. Good communication among staff promotes continuity, encourages collaboration and leads to effective teamwork, which helps avoid safety errors and falls. This course will help long-term care staff understand ways to improve communication and teamwork, especially with respect to their fall prevention efforts.

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Objectives

Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:

  1.  Discuss the importance of effective communication.
  2.  Identify root causes/ reasons for communication failures.
  3.  List components of effective teams and teamwork.
  4.  Establish techniques/tools to improve communication between staff members and residents (their families).
  5.  Discuss the benefits of effective nurse communication.

Curriculum

Chapter 1: Introduction

  • Communication Failures

Chapter 2: Visual Communication

  • Signage
  • Bracelets/Wristbands
  • Resident Charts
  • Mobility Aids
  • Blankets/Socks
  • Fall Risk Colors
  • Summary

Chapter 3: Communication with Residents and Families

  • Safety Education
  • Teach Back
  • Ask Me 3
  • Post Fall Education
  • Making Use of Printed Material
  • Tips for Effective Communication

Chapter 4: Teamwork and Communication

  • Communication and Communication Failure
  • Components of Successful Teamwork

Chapter 5: Team Communication Tools and Techniques: Huddles

  • Huddles
  • Safety Huddles
  • Additional Huddles

Chapter 6: Team Communication Tools and Techniques: Handoffs

  • SBAR
  • Closed Loop Communication
  • Readback
  • I Pass
  • CUS
  • Barriers to Effective Handoffs

Chapter 7: Team Communication Tools and Techniques: Briefs and Debriefs

  • Briefs
  • Debriefs
  • Summary

Chapter 8: The Benefits of Effective Nurse Communication

Chapter 9: Communication Case Study

  • Summary

Chapter 10: References

  • California Bill 241
  • Implicit Bias in Healthcare
  • What is Implicit Bias?
  • Implications of Implicit Bias in Healthcare
  • How to Reduce Implicit Bias

Price: $15.00

Contact Hours: 1.5

Course Author

Rein Tideiksaar

Rein Tideiksaar, PhD, PA-C, or Dr. Rein as he is commonly referred to, is the president of Fall Prevent, LLC, Blackwood, New Jersey, a consulting company that provides educational, legal, and marketing services related to fall prevention in the elderly.

Dr. Tideiksaar is a gerontologist, which is a health care professional who specializes in working with elderly patients, and a geriatric physician's assistant. He has been active in the area of fall prevention for over thirty years. 

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Course Accreditation

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