TY - JOUR PY - 2014// TI - Shifting the paradigm: an assessment of the quality of fall risk reduction in Nebraska hospitals JO - Journal of rural health A1 - Jones, Katherine J. A1 - Venema, Dawn M. A1 - Nailon, Regina A1 - Skinner, Anne M. A1 - High, Robin A1 - Kennel, Victoria SP - 135 EP - 145 VL - 31 IS - 2 N2 - PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of evidence-based fall risk reduction structures and processes in Nebraska hospitals; whether fall rates are associated with specific structures and processes; and whether fall risk reduction structures, processes, and outcomes vary by hospital type-Critical Access Hospital (CAH) versus non-CAH.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of Nebraska's 83 general community hospitals, 78% of which are CAHs. We used a negative binomial rate model to estimate fall rates while adjusting for hospital volume (patient days) and the exact Pearson chi-square test to determine associations between hospital type and the structure and process of fall risk reduction.

FINDINGS: Approximately two-thirds or more of 70 hospitals used 6 of 9 evidence-based universal fall risk reduction interventions; 50% or more used 14 of 16 evidence-based targeted interventions. After adjusting for hospital volume, hospitals in which teams integrated evidence from multiple disciplines and reflected upon data and modified polices/procedures based upon data had significantly lower total and injurious fall rates per 1,000 patient days than hospitals that did not. Non-CAHs were significantly more likely than CAHs to perform 5 organizational-level fall risk reduction processes. CAHs reported significantly greater total (5.9 vs 4.0) and injurious (1.7 vs 0.9) fall rates per 1,000 patient days than did non-CAHs.

CONCLUSIONS: Hospital type was a significant predictor of fall rates. However, shifting the paradigm for fall risk reduction from a nursing-centric approach to one in which teams implement evidence-based practices and learn from data may decrease fall risk regardless of hospital type.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0890-765X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12088 ID - ref1 ER -