Inpatient Falls: Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies in Healthcare

<p>Inpatient falls are a significant healthcare concern, leading to injuries, negatively impacting patient outcomes, delaying<br>discharge, and increasing costs for both patients and hospitals. Identifying high-risk factors and implementing personalized<br>fall prevention plans can help reduce the likelihood and occurrence of falls. This review discusses current findings on factors<br>contributing to fall-related events and examines research on the efficacy of various fall prevention interventions in hospital<br>settings. Each year, approximately one million inpatient falls occur in the United States, with individuals aged 65 years or older<br>experiencing the highest rates. A single fall increases the risk of subsequent falls by heightening fear and reducing mobility<br>and function. Several factors contribute to a higher fall risk, including muscle weakness, cognitive impairment, orthostatic<br>hypotension, certain medications, and hospital-related environmental factors. Fall risk assessments are widely utilized in hospital<br>fall prevention programs.</p>