At Spooner Health, the commitment to reducing falls has been an ongoing journey, much like it is for many healthcare facilities. Ensuring high-quality care and patient safety remains a top priority. With the unwavering support and dedication of Senior Leaders, the teams have maintained a strong focus on fall reduction.
Recognizing that there is no single solution to reduce falls, Spooner Health has adopted an “every patient, every time” approach. Several interventions are seamlessly incorporated into patient care to ensure safety and focus. Key interventions include:
- Onboarding of New Employees: Every employee is trained in the “no passing zone” policy, which engages all staff in patient safety. If a staff member sees a call light and no care team members are nearby, they respond, whether it involves picking something up off the floor or staying with the patient until the care team arrives.
- Interdisciplinary Care Team Rounds: These involve the patient, family, and all care providers, ideally conducted at the bedside. Discussions consider the patient’s acuity and anticipated needs, ensuring comprehensive communication among team members for safe patient care.
- Hourly Rounding: Regular rounding addresses patient needs proactively, reducing the use of call lights and increasing patient engagement.
- Staff-to-Patient Ratio: Patient acuity is taken into account daily to ensure that patients requiring 1:1 care receive it without compromising care for others.
- Early Ambulation: Encouraging patients to be active with the support of PT/OT staff, who are integral to daily care.
- Falls Board: Using magnets to indicate “fall-free days” and a different color for any falls, this board is visible to staff and visitors, highlighting achievements and emphasizing the importance of fall prevention.
- Ascom Phones: Bed alarms are integrated into Ascom phones carried by nurses, ensuring alarms are easily heard and promptly addressed.
Spooner Health has evolved from relying solely on yellow wristbands, lights, and slippers. While these items are still used, they are now part of a broader, more comprehensive fall prevention strategy. This holistic view of fall prevention helps maintain motivation and dedication to providing high-quality patient care.
