2018 Research Forum

Fall Prevention in Medical Surgical Unit. Physical Activity Awareness. Investigator/Presenter Team: Ana Ceja RN, Virender Kaur RN, Ramona Lake RN, Samantha Manuel RN Departmental Sponsor: Pamela Gavin RN BSN; NRP Coordinator

Ana Ceja RN 1 , Virender Kaur RN 1 , Ramona Lake RN 1 , Samantha Manuel RN 1 1 Cohort 1, Nurse Resident Program

INTRODUCTION Most hospitals have implemented protocols and policies to prevent patients from falling. Kern Medical uses the John Hopkins Risk Assessment and implements practices based on the patients fall risk score. There are common interventions already in place to maintain patient safety, which include: bed alarms, color-coded socks, door signs, sitters and even physical restraints at times. An often overlook intervention are the benefits of patients receiving physical therapy. PURPOSE We were interested in finding an association between patients fall risk and observing if a physical therapy consult was made or not. In search for a connection between patients fall risk and the benefits of physical therapy. A goal is to reach Magnet hospitals lower rate of falls and injury falls when compared to Kern Medical current rates and to overall public hospital rates. This is an awareness study to identify goals to decrease falls by increasing early mobilization and PT referrals.

53