Because there are so many factors beyond age, gender, and the number of previously experienced that can contribute to a person falling, every patient at Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) is assumed be at risk for a fall from the moment he or she is admitted to the moment he or she is discharged.
Upon a patient鈥檚 admission to SBUH, we conduct a Falls Risk Assessment using a standardized scale called the Morse Fall Risk Model庐. Based on over 20 years of research and national and international use, the Morse scale helps us identify risk factors and consider their root causes.
But we don鈥檛 stop there. We also conduct a safety study of each patient鈥檚 room. Is the positioning of the bed low enough? Is the call bell within reach? Is there clutter in the room? Is the floor clean? Are the patient鈥檚 shoes appropriate? Is there a nightlight?
When a patient鈥檚 score for being at risk for falling is high, the patient is assigned a room close to the nursing station and a yellow arm band, bed sticker, and door sticker are prominently displayed to alert caregivers, family, and other visitors that the patient is at risk for falls. Once these alerts are in place, we monitor our patients who are at-risk 24/7. If we find something in the patient鈥檚 room that poses a potential risk, we correct it immediately, and then check for the same potential issue with our other patients who are at-risk for falls. By doing so, we help to ensure everyone鈥檚 safety at all times.
to access our data directly.
Patient Falls: Source NDNQI
Compared by: Bed Size by Teaching Indicator: Peer Group: Bed Size >= 500;
Academic Medical Centers Measure: Total Patient Falls Per 1,000 Patient Days (Lower Better)