In hospitals and other healthcare facilities, falls are among the most frequently reported incidents. Unlike some other types of adverse events, many inpatient falls cause little or no harm, but the high overall rate of falls means that they are a significant cause of hospital-acquired injury. Falls can sometimes lead to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head traumas.
Immobility is a decrease in the amount of time spent up and moving (getting out of the bed or chair and walking, for example). Immobility causes loss of muscle strength and negative changes in the heart and blood vessels. Immobility in the hospital increases the chances of delirium, pressure ulcers, venous thromboembolism, falls and functional decline. Functional decline is the loss of the ability to perform activities that ensure a person's independence, such as walking, getting to the toilet and dressing. Functional decline leads to increased lengths of hospitalization and readmission.
Goal: The Partnership for Patients estimates that 25 percent of fall injuries are preventable. The goal set for hospitals is to cut the number of preventable fall injuries in half while maintaining or increasing patients' mobility by 2013. Over three years, this would prevent a total of 43,750 fall injuries, while maintaining or increasing mobility.
