*TS: Perspectives on Patient Safety: New Sentinel Event Alert on Patient Falls (PDF/QV) [REF: RNx] The Source, November 2015, Vol 13, #11, Pg 7 JCs1511_B4

This is the second article in a November TJC publication dedicated to Sentinel Event Alert 55 on Falls Prevention.  Although largely redundant with this month’s Perspective article on the same topic, it does provide a useful 1-page summary listing of:
1 – the 5 most frequently report root causes for falls reported as sentinel events
2 – 5 of the recommended strategies for preventing falls
It also provides a few additional points of perspective on the importance of preventing falls, such as:
• 30-50% of falls result in injury
• Of the 465 fall-related sentinel events reported since 2009, “approximately 63%” resulted in death.
Tip: Clinical leaders should read the alert with the above statistics in mind.
Tip: Consider using this article as a 1-page handout in the next meetings of the Medical Staff and Nursing Leadership.
See also: New Alert Discusses Prevention of Patient Falls (above)  Perspectives, November 2015, Vol 35, #11