Action 5.26 states
Clinicians providing care to patients at risk of falls provide patients, carers and families with information about reducing falls risks and falls prevention strategies
Intent
Patients, carers and families are provided with information about falls risks and preventing falls.
Reflective question
What information and support are provided to patients and carers about falls risk and prevention?
Key tasks
- Provide information to, and have discussions with, patients, carers and families about falls risks.
- Seek feedback on information provided to patients and carers, and amend it to improve the information.
- Ensure that the discharge planning protocol prompts the workforce to consider referral to appropriate services.
Strategies for improvement
Hospitals
Provide patient information
Involving patients, carers and families in the development of falls prevention and harm minimisation strategies may reduce the frequency and severity of falls. Providing information to, and discussing information with, patients, carers and families will help them understand and take part in the prevention and management strategies.
Seek feedback from patients, carers, families and the workforce about the information provided to patients to inform quality improvement.
Information for patients:
- Falls and preventing harm from falls
- Don't fall for it.
- Falls prevention for patients and carers
- Falls and children
Ensure access to referral services
Create a log of services available that accept referred patients after discharge.
Set the criteria for referral, and include these in policies, procedures and protocols.
Detail prevention strategies, falls risks and patient history in discharge information to enable continuity of care between health services.
Day Procedure Services
Provide patient information
For patients who are at risk of falling or sustaining harm from a fall during care at a day procedure service, or immediately after an episode of care, provide patients or their carers with practical information about the factors that contribute to falls and how to prevent falls.
Information for patients:
- Falls and preventing harm from falls
- Don't fall for it.
- Falls prevention for patients and carers
- Falls and children
Examples of evidence
Select only examples currently in use:
- Consumer and carer information packages or resources about falls risks
- Audit results of healthcare records to determine whether information about falls risks and prevention strategies was provided to the patient
- Results of patient and carer experience surveys, and organisational responses, in relation to information provided about falls risks and falls prevention strategies.
MPS & Small Hospitals
Provide patient information
Involving patients, carers and families in discussions about falls risks and the development of falls prevention and harm minimisation strategies may reduce the frequency and severity of falls. Providing information to, and discussing information with, patients, carers and families will help them understand and take part in the prevention and management strategies.
Seek feedback from patients, carers, families and the workforce about the information provided to patients to inform quality improvement.
Information for patients:
- Falls and preventing harm from falls
- Don't fall for it.
- Falls prevention for patients and carers
- Falls and children
Ensure access to referral services
Create a log of services available that accept referred patients after discharge.
Set the criteria for referral, and include these in policies, protocols and procedures.
Detail prevention strategies, falls risks and patient history in discharge information to enable continuity of care between health services.
Hospitals
Provide patient information
Involving patients, carers and families in the development of falls prevention and harm minimisation strategies may reduce the frequency and severity of falls. Providing information to, and discussing information with, patients, carers and families will help them understand and take part in the prevention and management strategies.
Seek feedback from patients, carers, families and the workforce about the information provided to patients to inform quality improvement.
Information for patients:
- Falls and preventing harm from falls
- Don't fall for it.
- Falls prevention for patients and carers
- Falls and children
Ensure access to referral services
Create a log of services available that accept referred patients after discharge.
Set the criteria for referral, and include these in policies, procedures and protocols.
Detail prevention strategies, falls risks and patient history in discharge information to enable continuity of care between health services.
Day Procedure Services
Provide patient information
For patients who are at risk of falling or sustaining harm from a fall during care at a day procedure service, or immediately after an episode of care, provide patients or their carers with practical information about the factors that contribute to falls and how to prevent falls.
Information for patients:
- Falls and preventing harm from falls
- Don't fall for it.
- Falls prevention for patients and carers
- Falls and children
Examples of evidence
Select only examples currently in use:
- Consumer and carer information packages or resources about falls risks
- Audit results of healthcare records to determine whether information about falls risks and prevention strategies was provided to the patient
- Results of patient and carer experience surveys, and organisational responses, in relation to information provided about falls risks and falls prevention strategies.
MPS & Small Hospitals
Provide patient information
Involving patients, carers and families in discussions about falls risks and the development of falls prevention and harm minimisation strategies may reduce the frequency and severity of falls. Providing information to, and discussing information with, patients, carers and families will help them understand and take part in the prevention and management strategies.
Seek feedback from patients, carers, families and the workforce about the information provided to patients to inform quality improvement.
Information for patients:
- Falls and preventing harm from falls
- Don't fall for it.
- Falls prevention for patients and carers
- Falls and children
Ensure access to referral services
Create a log of services available that accept referred patients after discharge.
Set the criteria for referral, and include these in policies, protocols and procedures.
Detail prevention strategies, falls risks and patient history in discharge information to enable continuity of care between health services.