How to Report Patient Falls

Patient safety is important in most health care facilities. Specific policies and procedures exist to prevent falls and other injuries. Patients are at risk of falling because they are weak, unable to use an arm or leg for stability, or have mental deficiencies that cause them to act impulsively. Patients who are at higher risk of falls often wear wrist bracelets that state "fall risk" and their charts are often labeled as well. Despite these precautions, falls do occur, and they must be reported.

Instructions

• 1

  Write the patient's name, date of birth and medical record number on the report. Note the date and time of the fall. If the cause of the fall is known, describe environmental factors or patient-related factors that contributed to the fall.

• 2

  Describe the location and extent of any injuries to the patient. Detail any first-aid measures that were administered.

• 3

  Discuss follow-up measures taken to reduce the factors that contributed to the fall. Document the names and credentials of any staff members who were present during the fall as well as any staff members who administered treatment for the patient's injuries.