Fall Prevention: Fall Risk Monitoring Strategies

Falls are a major problem for patients* in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Some 3 to 20% of inpatients fall at least once during their hospitalization. In long-term care settings, up to 75% of patient’s experience one or more falls. Falls are associated with significant physical complications ranging from minor bruises and sprains to more serious events, such as hip and other fractures, spinal cord and brain injury. Given the extent and consequences associated with patient falls, it’s important that facilities address the problem of falls. 

* The term ‘patients’ is used to refer to both acute care patients and long-term care residents.

In order to reduce the risk of falls, caregivers need to understand the conditions under which falls occur and the most frequent or common factors associated with fall risk. Approximately 10% of falls occur because of sudden medical illness (i.e., fainting or dizziness) or “accidental” trips and slips. In most instances, these falls cannot be predicted and, thereby, are not preventable. The majority of falls, however, are due to a host of underlying internal and/or external factors.

Questions? Check out our FAQs page and How Online IV Certification Works!

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. List the reasons for fall risk monitoring.
  2. Describe the techniques for communicating fall risk.
  3. Explain the strategies for monitoring fall risk. 

Curriculum

Chapter 1: Introduction

  • Internal risk factors
  • External risk factors

Chapter 2: Fall Risk Monitoring 

  • Determining Fall Risk Levels

Chapter 3: Communicating Risk

  • Safety Education
  • Flagging
  • Safety Huddles 
  • Hand Offs
  • Tools and Techniques to Assist in Handoffs
  • Barriers to effective handoffs

Chapter 4: Monitoring Strategies

  • High Fall Risk Conditions/Circumstances
  • Safety Rounds
  • Eyes and Ears Program
  • Sitter Program
  • Fall Alarms

Chapter 5: Deciding on Monitoring Strategies

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

Price: $12.00

Contact Hour: 1

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. 

Read Full Bio

Course Accreditation

See our Accreditation Statements page to view our accreditation information.

Ready to begin?

Go to the student dashboard.

Not sure what courses you need?

Browse our course catalog!