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Extrinsic Factors of Patient Falls

Mom is admitted to a local health care facility. Staff and care are available around the clock. Safety measures are in place, but she still falls. What happened? Falls, and resulting injuries, can cause serious harm, even death. They are rarely the result of one factor, but a combination of many.

  1. Time and Staffing

    • Time is an extrinsic factor in patient falls.

      In the midst of all the activity within a health care facility, a patient can fall. It is important to know what is happening at the time of the fall, perhaps the patient fell because the staff was doing other tasks and were unable to assist the person in time. The shift and day of the week may be a factor, especially in relation to staffing. Health care facilities provide staff to care for the patients, considering the number and acuity. But, with illness, vacation and other unanticipated events, staffing can fluctuate. When evaluating extrinsic factors of patient falls, these should be considered.

    Equipment

    • Bed height may be an extinsic factor contributing to a patient fall.

      In many cases, equipment is involved in a fall. The height of beds , chairs and toilets are a factor in falls. In addition, a lack of grab a bar to assist with standing may be a contributing extrinsic factor for a patient fall. Staff must b e vigilant regarding the condition of furniture, wheel chairs and assisting devices.

    General Environment

    • Broken wheelchairs are an extrinsic factor in patient falls.

      There are extrinsic factors in the immediate surroundings, which can contribute to patient falls. Staff must to be diligent and work toward eliminating these hazards. Hallway lighting, the condition of floors, as well as items on the floor where patients walk are risk factors for patient falls. Unlocked chairs or improperly used safety devices may also contribute to falls.

      All staff in a healthcare facility has the responsibility to identify and minimize extrinsic factors of patient falls in the environment.

    Patient Falls a Combination of Factors

    • Staff assess patients for risk of falling.

      Extrinsic factors, along with the patient's mental and physical health and level of medication and history of previous falls, will contribute to a patient's risk for falling. Staff needs to identify patients who are fall risks and reduce the factors that contribute to the risk.

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