*TS: Targeted Solutions: Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare Takes on Patient Falls (PDF/QV) [REF: AOM15, RNx, SFT] The Source, September 2015, Vol 13, #9, Pg 7 JCs1509_B4

This past month, TJC implemented a Preventing Falls Targeted Solutions Tool (TST) and it is focused on fall prevention. The original development began with 7 hospitals using Robust Process Improvement (RPI) and a DMAIC approach to analyze all-related data and identify the most impactful contributing factors to their current fall rates. Improvement solutions were then developed and applied in an ordered manner to determine which really made a difference. The goal for the participating hospitals was to reduce the overall fall rate by 25% and the rate of falls with injuries by 50%. The article reports both goals being exceeded by 10% or more (ie., 35% and 62% respectively). Those solutions that made a difference were later validated by 5 additional hospitals and are now available online in TJC’s Center for Transforming Healthcare. The online tool provides a step-by-step guide through an RPI-like process for identifying your organization’s risk factors and then matching them to a customized set of the proven solutions.
Tip1: Any organization looking to improve its fall prevention efforts should review the tool
Tip2: Efforts to utilize or explore a TST can provide useful survey talking points
See also: Sentinel Event Alert 55: Preventing falls and fall-related injuries in health care facilities