The Falls Management Program: A Quality Improvement Initiative for Nursing Facilities

The Falls Management Program
A Quality Improvement Initiative for Nursing Facilities

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The Falls Management Program presented in this manual is an interdisciplinary quality improvement initiative. It is designed to assist nursing facilities in providing individualized, person-centered care, and improving their fall care processes and outcomes through educational and quality improvement tools.

Select for print version (PDF File, 8 MB, 152 pages) (PDF Help).
http://www.ahrq.gov/research/ltc/fallspx/fallspxmanual.pdf


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By Jo A. Taylor, R.N., M.P.H. Patricia Parmelee, Ph.D. Holly Brown, M.S.N., A.P.R.N.-B.C. Joseph Ouslander, M.D.

Developed and supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) #290-00-0011, Task Order No. 3. A program of Center for Health in Aging and the Emory University Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Department of Medicine 1841 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia, 30329; (404) 728-6900; www.cha.emory.edu.



Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. Introduction and Program Overview
Chapter 2. Fall Response
Chapter 3. Data Collection and Analysis Using TRIPS
Chapter 4. Long-Term Management
Chapter 5. Information and Training for Staff, Primary Care Providers, and Residents and their Families
Chapter 6. Environment and Equipment Safety
Appendix A. References and Equipment Sources
Appendix B. Forms and Training Materials
Appendix C. Case Study and Program Examples
Appendix D. Falls Engineer Instructions

Acknowledgments
We gratefully acknowledge the expert advice of Elizabeth Capezuti, R.N., Ph.D. and Harry Strothers, M.D. and the invaluable work of Walton Harris in preparing the program materials.

The Falls Management Program builds upon the previous work of Dr. Wayne Ray and colleagues at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Several components of the program and illustrations in this publication are used courtesy of the Department of Preventive Medicine in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Lucy Rogers, Pam O'Rourke, Ken Brouse and others at Ethica Healthcare Retirement Communities were instrumental in the development of the Tracking Record for Improving Patient Safety and have provided insightful feedback and assistance for material revisions.

The information in this manual and the other program materials are intended to supplement the knowledge of nursing and medical staff. The instructions for altering the environment or adapting equipment as well as other care processes may not be applicable in your setting. Before using any of the adaptations or items, all available information concerning the resident as well as particular circumstances of the environment and equipment must be carefully evaluated by staff. The information provided in this manual is advisory only and is not intended to replace sound clinical judgment or individualized resident care. Contents of this manual do not necessarily reflect Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) policy or endorsement.


Current as of February 2010


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Internet Citation:

The Falls Management Program: A Quality Improvement Initiative for Nursing Facilities. February 2010. Rockville, MD, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/ltc/fallspx/fallspxmanual.htm