MetroWest Medical Center is proud of its very active multidisciplinary approach to quality improvement. In encouraging a culture of patient safety and transparency, all results of quality improvement efforts are shared with staff, physicians and other stakeholders.
In reviewing patient fall data, there was a high incidence of falls at the beginning of the measurement period. A root cause analysis was conducted on each fall with injury, and it was determined not to be related to staffing, volume or medications. Nevertheless, a fall committee was re-established, and a campaign was implemented to reduce the incidence of all falls. A new protocol involving highly visible patient safety devices and additional bed fall monitors were introduced. Subsequently, the fall rate has declined. |