patientfall

A patient fall, sometimes written as patientfall in records, is an unintentional descent to the floor or a lower level that occurs in a healthcare setting, such as a hospital or long‑term care facility. Falls may involve landing on the ground, on a bed, or on furniture, and they can occur with or without injury. The term is used in patient safety to monitor and prevent such events.

Risk factors include advanced age, cognitive impairment or delirium, gait or balance problems, dizziness, vision impairment, and sedating medications or polypharmacy. Medical conditions such as stroke, Parkinson disease, arthritis, or general weakness increase risk, as do environmental hazards like clutter, poor lighting, uneven floors, and incontinence.

Consequences range from minor injuries to serious harm, including fractures, head injury, or internal complications. Falls can prolong hospital stays, necessitate rehabilitation, and trigger fear of falling, leading to reduced mobility and independence. In some cases, falls are associated with increased mortality risk.

Prevention relies on systematic risk assessment on admission and periodically thereafter, followed by individualized interventions. Multicomponent strategies include balance and strength training, medication review, avoidance of unnecessary sedatives, use of assistive devices, and environmental modifications such as improved lighting, non-slip floors, and clutter reduction. Safe bed height and hourly rounding or supervision may be used for high‑risk patients. After a fall, prompt assessment and root cause analysis help prevent recurrence.

Hospitals and long‑term care facilities track falls to measure safety performance, using rates per 1,000 patient‑days or per admissions. Data inform safety programs and policy changes. Clinicians use standardized fall risk tools and post‑fall checklists to guide management and prevention.