AHRQ Fall TIPS: A patient-centered fall prevention toolkit

Summary

Falls are the most common cause of preventable injury. Being hospitalized puts patients at further risk for falls due to illness and the newness of the hospital environment. Unfamiliar surroundings, medications and treatments given in the hospital setting, and decreased activity can cause patients to become mentally confused, weak, and unsteady. Even patients who were active and independent at home may require assistance to complete simple activities safely while they are in the hospital, such as getting out of bed or using the bathroom.

This toolkit, developed through an AHRQ Patient Safety Learning Lab, consists of a formal risk assessment and tailored plan of care for each patient. The toolkit has reduced falls by 25% in acute care hospitals and is used in more than 100 hospitals in the United States and internationally.

Further reading on the hub:

• Editing Top picks: Ten fall prevention resources