POST FALL HUDDLE: A MULTICOMPONENT INTERVENTION TO PREVENT RECURRENT FALLS AMONG OLDER ADULTS RESIDING AT THE LONG TERM CARE UNIT: A RETROSPECTIVE CHART REVIEW

Falls among Older Adults (OAs) are significant problems especially for those living in Long Term Care (LTC) units. The incidence of falls and its resulting injuries continue to rise in OAs, 65 years and older. The literature is rich in information regarding the risk factors of falls and methods for correcting them. Yet, OAs continue to fall and sustain injuries that can lead to mortality, increased morbidity, decreased functioning, and quality of life. As outlined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and the Prospective Payment System Final Rule in 2009, placed the financial burden of fall prevention on hospitals. CMS will no longer reimburse hospitals for injuries sustained secondary to falls that occurred within the hospital setting. According to CMS guidelines, these types of fall are preventable. Thus, without CMS reimbursement, the costs associated with secondary falls will cause an extreme financial burden to the healthcare system. The goal of this Doctor of Nursing project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the interdisciplinary, multicomponent interventions implemented for reducing recurrent falls with the Post Fall Huddle (PFH). The PFH is a brief gathering of an interdisciplinary (ID) team of individuals who are directly involved with the patient’s care. The ID team convenes to identify the cause and risk factors associated with the fall incident. This PFH occurs within 15 minutes of the fall. Based upon a retrospective chart review, it was determined that there was a 78% reduction in recurrent falls, a 65% reduction in the number of falls iv and 100% compliance in the performance of the Post Fall Huddle after each fall incident. The active involvement of the patient with the ID team in creating an individualized and meaningful intervention plan resulted in a safer patient environment.