Reader Question: Record slips and trips, not just falls, for best results
Record slips and trips, not just falls, for best results
Question: What is the best way to define a “fall" for the purposes of data collection and educating our staff about fall prevention strategies? Is it a fall if the patient slips but a staff member catches him before he actually falls? This seems important to keeping accurate records, and we're not sure what to tell staff about how to record and report those incidents.
Answer: It is indeed important to classify such incidents correctly, says Jim Sheridan, senior risk control consultant with PMA Insurance Group in Blue Bell, PA. However, the question is not just whether it was a fall or not. Rather, you should record exactly what the incident was: a slip or a trip, he says.
A slip is defined as a lack of traction between the foot or footwear and the walking surface. A trip is when the foot collides with an object, causing a loss of balance. Falls can be the result of a slip or trip, but not all slips and trips result in a fall, Sheridan notes.
“So, if a patient slips but is caught before hitting the ground, that should be reported as a slip but not necessarily a fall," he says. “You actually need to differentiate between all three when you're collecting data instead of just collecting a raw number of falls. If you have a broad category called ‘slips and falls,' then you're not getting the kind of specific data that let you drill down to the causes and potential solutions."
Accurate reporting will require education of staff in the difference between the three categories, Sheridan says.
Question: What is the best way to define a fall" for the purposes of data collection and educating our staff about fall prevention strategies? Is it a fall if the patient slips but a staff member catches him before he actually falls? This seems important to keeping accurate records, and we're not sure what to tell staff about how to record and report those incidents.Subscribe Now for Access
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