According to an article on the Becker's ASC website, the patient fall rate was 1.4 per 10,000 ASC admissions in 2011. To help prevent falls, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care's Institute for Quality Improvement recommends following steps:
1. Communicate risk factors to patient, patient's caregivers and all patient care staff.
2. Identify the need for a translator if English is not the patient's primary language.
3. Train patients about gait and balance.
4. Review and modify medications — especially cardiovascular agents associated with orthostatic drop in systolic pressure.
5. Prevent/treat postural hypotension.
Read the rest of the steps.
Why Healthcare Facilities Management Is Critical to Patient Safety
Brookdale Senior Living Announces Acquisition of the Brookdale Galleria Community
Erlanger Health System Falls Victim to Data Breach
Technological Readiness: The Missing Construction Milestone
From Cooling Towers to Cost Savings: Hospital Seizes Power-Saving Opportunity