Injury Prevention

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patient falls in hospitals

Prevalence:

Studies estimate that between 2% and 17% of hospitalized patients experience a fall during their stay. Approximately 30-50% of patient falls in hospitals result in injury, ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures and head injuries.

Causes:

It is found that there are multiple factors that contribute to patient falls. Ranging from patient factors such as cognition, attached medical devices and lines and in particular the common hazard of unsecured or poorly managed equipment such as electrical cords.

Conclusion:

Trip-and-fall injuries in hospitals, particularly those related to environmental factors like electrical cords, pose a considerable risk to patient safety. Ongoing research emphasizes the importance of robust prevention strategies, including better cord management, environmental modifications, and regular patient assessments, to reduce fall-related injuries and improve patient outcomes.

Reducing Tripping Hazards and Physical Strain in Healthcare

Loose electrical cords in busy healthcare settings can create serious tripping hazards, leading to injuries and potentially long-term work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs).

Cordclear secures and organizes these cords, reducing the risk of accidents during patient transport, equipment relocation, and storage. By minimizing clutter and keeping cords out of walkways, Cordclear enhances healthcare worker safety and reduces the physical strain associated with untangling and adjusting cords. This proactive approach not only prevents injuries but also promotes an ergonomic and safer environment for healthcare professionals.

healthcare worker pushing in-patient bed without cordclear's hospital cord holder

Staff Injury

Research reveals that hospital staff experience a high incidence of trip and fall injuries, with common sources including loose cords and cluttered walkways. These injuries affect the well-being of all hospital staff serving the role of patient transporters, leading to lost workdays and long-term physical issues. Research shows hospital staff work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are highly prevalent in the healthcare industry due to the physically demanding nature of the work.

Common tasks including repetitive movements and awkward postures, such as while avoiding loose cords during patient transport, contribute significantly to the development of WMSDs, particularly affecting the back, shoulders and neck. These disorders can lead to chronic pain, reduced work capacity and increased absenteeism. This ultimately not only affects the quality of life for the healthcare worker but has an impact on quality of care to the patient and strains the healthcare system in finding replacement staff.

These injuries can disrupt patient care, potentially compromising the quality of service. The frequent occurrence of injuries and disruptions of patient care underscores the need for improved safety measures in the hospital setting to protect both staff and patients. Preventative strategies, including ergonomic interventions, such as the Cordclear cord holders, can contribute to mitigating the risk of trip and fall injuries and WMSDs.

References:

1. Institute for Healthcare Improvement (2023). Improvement Area: Workforce Safety. Health care workforce safety is inextricably linked to patient safety, outcomes, and experience of care. Retrieved from Institute for Healthcare Improvement

2. Letvak S, Apple B, Jenkins M, Doss C, McCoy TP. (2023). At Risk Safety Behaviors of the Perioperative Nursing Team: A Direct Observational Study. Healthcare (Basel). 11(5):698. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11050698. PMID: 36900703; PMCID: PMC10000593.

3. Penn Medicine (2021, May 1). Things You May Not Know About Patient Transport ... But Should. According to University of Pennsylvania, their transport team completes an average of 575 trips daily. Retrieved from Penn Medicine

4. Conner, R., & Burlingame, B. (2016). Guidelines for Perioperative Practice: Edition 2016. AORN. Recommendation III: "Perioperative personnel should take precautions to mitigate the risk of occupational injuries associated with slips, trips, and falls." NIOSH reports slips, trips, and falls as a significant cause of work-related injuries.

5. Hempel, S., Newberry, S., Wang, Z., et al. (2013). Hospital fall prevention: A systematic review of implementation, components, adherence, and effectiveness. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 61(4), 483-494. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.12169

6. Oliver, D., Healey, F., & Haines, T. P. (2010). Preventing falls and fall-related injuries in hospitals. Clinical Geriatric Medicine, 26(4), 645-692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cger.2010.06.005

7. Coussement, J., De Paepe, L., Schwendimann, R., Denhaerynck, K., Dejaeger, E., & Milisen, K. (2008). Interventions for preventing falls in acute- and chronic-care hospitals: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 56(1), 29-36. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01508.x

Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls for Patients & Healthcare

patient falls in hospitals

Reducing Tripping Hazards and Physical Strain in Healthcare

Staff Injury

What Are the Costs?

Average cost of fall or slip worker's compensation claims.

What Healthcare Workers Are Saying...

Operating Room Hazard

Operating Room Trip and Fall Occurrences

Operating Room Trip and Fall Occurrences

Operating Room Trip and Fall Occurrences

Operating Room Trip and Fall Occurrences

Operating Room Trip and Fall Occurrences

Patient Transport Hazard

Healthcare Worker Trip Falls

Healthcare Worker Trip Falls

Healthcare Worker Trip Falls

Healthcare Worker Trip Falls

Healthcare Worker Trip Falls

References:

Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls for Patients & Healthcare

patient falls in hospitals

Reducing Tripping Hazards and Physical Strain in Healthcare

Staff Injury

What Are the Costs?

Average cost of fall or slip worker's compensation claims.

What Healthcare Workers Are Saying...

Operating Room Hazard

Operating Room Trip and Fall Occurrences

Operating Room Trip and Fall Occurrences

Operating Room Trip and Fall Occurrences

Operating Room Trip and Fall Occurrences

Operating Room Trip and Fall Occurrences

Patient Transport Hazard

Healthcare Worker Trip Falls

Healthcare Worker Trip Falls

Healthcare Worker Trip Falls

Healthcare Worker Trip Falls

Healthcare Worker Trip Falls

References:

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