Fall Risk Assessment Tool and Reduction of Patient Falls

Fall Risk Assessment Tool and Reduction of Patient Falls
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Fall Risk Assessment Tool and Reduction of Patient Falls
Introduction
A fall is a situation where an individual tumbles to the floor, and there may or may not be injury to the body (Middleton, 2014). Mulligan and Faldmo (2000), state that a fall is usually unplanned and it is considered an accident. There are many problems that can occur to a patient after a fall. These may include lacerations, fractures, injury to the spine and internal bleeding, which according to researches, lead to an increase in the rate of hospitalization (Middleton, 2014). Research has shown that approximately more than 700,000 people sustain a fall in the United States annually (Tang, Chow& Lin, 2014). Most of these falls can be prevented when the necessary measures are put in place. This paper describes the risk of falls as one of the major clinical issues facing many patients in the U.S, and why this is a problem of concern in the medical setup.
The Risk of Falls in Admitted Patients
The staffs that take care of patients in acute hospitals have conflicting and complex goals when treating such patients. The medical team would need to treat the underlying condition of patient that caused the admission in the first place, ensure the patient remains safe throughout the hospitalization period, while maintaining their mental and physical function (Gulanick & Myers, (2011). This shows that the prevention of falls in admitted patients is crucial as patients expect quick recovery and being discharged as soon as possible. Patient’s safety is a priority in their care because it can be a cause of prolonged stay in the hospital if not properly upheld. The prevention of falls in patients involves the management of the underlying risk factors that can cause the ordeal. Such risk factors include the unsteady gait that may cause a problem when a patient is being transferred or when walking, side effects to medications, frequent needs for toileting and confusion (Tang et al., 2014).
The Challenge of Fall Prevention
The need to prevent patient’s falls should be balanced with the requirements of the patient. The attention to a patient’s needs is usually directed to the underlying problems of the patient. This means that in most cases, fall risk is not prioritized in the care of the patient. However, a fall can be disastrous, increasing the length of stay in the hospital. The need to prevent falls in patients admitted should be balanced with mobilization (Mulligan and Faldmo, 2000). The staffs taking care of the patient may be tempted to immobilize patient and restrict movement in an attempt to prevent falls. However, it is important for the personnel to know that a patient is required to ambulate so as to avoid other problems that may occur because of bed rest. This includes pressure sores, aspiration pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis and deconditioning. Such problems are likely to cause the patient to be admitted for longer. Restraining a patient while in bed may be considered unethical, and it conflicts with the principles of taking care of a patient as highlighte...