Reducing the Risk of patient Harm Resulting From Falls

In response to an increase in fall-related injuries in its skilled nursing facility, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center conducted a 'Kaizen' process, based on the Lean Six Sigma methodology, to identify the root causes of the falls. Results from the Kaizen were then taken to the multidisciplinary, hospital-based fall prevention team for consideration. The team began by revising the hospital and SNF fall prevention protocol and created an after-action fall report (a huddle that takes place at the time of the fall to conduct a real-time, mini, root cause analysis).