Joint Commission Issues Advisory on Preventing Newborn Falls in Hospital

The Joint Commission yesterday issued a safety advisory for hospitals on preventing newborn falls. The advisory encourages hospitals to develop a tool for assessing newborn fall risk and educate parents based on the assessment; ensure hourly rounding by staff to help drowsy mothers or other caregivers place their newborn in a bassinet; promote maternal rest; develop signage for the patient room or crib card to reinforce infant fall risks; develop a standardized reporting and debriefing tool for infant falls; and provide emotional support to the family or caregiver in the event of a fall.