Location

Jereld R. Nicholson Library

Subject Area

Nursing

Description

Background: Hospitals strive for patient safety, with fall prevention being a top priority. To improve patient safety outcomes, two local hospitals implemented No One Walks Alone (NOWA), an innovative fall prevention program.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the NOWA at Hospital A and Hospital B. The study continues to be part of a national system-wide implementation of NOWA.

Methods: All staff were trained in the NOWA program. Hospital A implemented the program March 3, 2014 and Hospital B began implementation on two units on March 18, 2014. Data was collected by monitoring fall rates over a one-month trial period.

Results: Data showed a decrease in falls at both hospitals after implementation of NOWA.

Discussion/Recommendation: The study was limited to one month of data. Long-term data is needed to better evaluate the effectiveness of the program in both hospitals. Topics that need to be discussed and addressed are patient refusal rates and modified plans for specialty units. Further data analysis can help identify the most effective methods in preventing falls. Hospital B should begin implementation hospital-wide.

Comments

Presenters: Kirsten Roush and Christian Rollandi

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May 16th, 4:30 PM May 16th, 6:00 PM

No One Walks Alone: Fall Prevention Program

Jereld R. Nicholson Library

Background: Hospitals strive for patient safety, with fall prevention being a top priority. To improve patient safety outcomes, two local hospitals implemented No One Walks Alone (NOWA), an innovative fall prevention program.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the NOWA at Hospital A and Hospital B. The study continues to be part of a national system-wide implementation of NOWA.

Methods: All staff were trained in the NOWA program. Hospital A implemented the program March 3, 2014 and Hospital B began implementation on two units on March 18, 2014. Data was collected by monitoring fall rates over a one-month trial period.

Results: Data showed a decrease in falls at both hospitals after implementation of NOWA.

Discussion/Recommendation: The study was limited to one month of data. Long-term data is needed to better evaluate the effectiveness of the program in both hospitals. Topics that need to be discussed and addressed are patient refusal rates and modified plans for specialty units. Further data analysis can help identify the most effective methods in preventing falls. Hospital B should begin implementation hospital-wide.