Organizing and Implementing a Fall Prevention Program
Contact Hours: 1
Cost: $10.00
In long-term care facilities, between one-half and three-quarters of residents fall each year. In an era where both the cost of care and resident outcomes are on the feds’ radar, preventing falls needs to be a top priority for administrators. The organization and implementation of fall prevention activities within long-term care facilities require is a two-step process:
•First, it’s essential to have a baseline knowledge of falls. This helps build clinical processes that enable nurses to prevent falls.
•Second, there are several organizational steps that are crucial to support both the efforts of frontline bedside nurses in preventing falls and the successful implementation of fall prevention programs.
This course is designed to:
•Assist long-term care administrators in organizing and implementing fall prevention programs.
•Provide nurse educators with an understanding of the clinical and organizational aspects of successful fall prevention programs and their implementation. In turn, educators can use this material to develop in-services that support staff in their fall prevention efforts.
Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
• List reasons for falls occur in long-term care facilities.
• State the importance of the fall prevention process in reducing fall risk.
• Explain key organizational steps needed to implement a fall prevention program.
• Discuss the importance of administrative leadership in organizing and implementing fall prevention activities.
Curriculum
Introduction
Chapter One: Knowing About Falls
Why Falls Occur
Where Falls Occur
When Falls Occur
How Falls Occur
Chapter Two: Adhering to a Clinical Process
Assessing Fall Risk
Communicating Risk
Multidisciplinary Evaluation
Care Planning
Post-Fall Assessment
Monitoring
Chapter Three: Organizing and /Implementing a Fall Prevention Program
Establish a “Culture of Safety”
Appoint a Falls Nurse Coordinator or Champion
Promote Education
Develop a Fall Management Committee
Piloting the Fall Prevention Program
Conduct Quality Improvement Activities
Administrative Support
Summary: The Bottom Line