Analysis of Patient Falls at Clinical Hospital Dubrava

Aim. The aim of the conducted analysis was to determinethe frequency of patient falls at the ClinicalHospital Dubrava and to present, based on the datacollected, the most common risk factors for falls,causes and consequences of falls, the location andmanner of falls, and the need for additional interventionsor actions taken after a fall.Methods. The analysis examined falls in 22,639 patientshospitalized at the Clinical Hospital Dubravafrom July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. The analysisincluded the age and gender of patients, fall risk assessmentusing the Morse Scale, location and mannerof falls, falls with and without consequences, andwhether patient falls required additional healthcareinterventions. Data were sourced from the HospitalInformation System (HIS). The study used graphic andtabular methods of presentation through MS Excel.Results. A total of 144 patient fall cases were reported,which represents an incidence rate of 6.3falls per 1,000 hospitalizations, or 0.935 falls per1,000 patient days. A significant clinical issue is thefact that 75% of patients were over 65 years old. Usingthe Morse Scale for fall risk assessment, 47% ofpatients were assessed as being at high risk for falls.In terms of internal and external risk factors, 77% offalls were due to internal factors, with the majority offalls occurring in the patient’s room (78%). Additionalinterventions requiring staff time and presence werenecessary for 53% of patients.Conclusion. The long-term goal is to reduce the incidenceof falls, which will lead to a reduction in treatmentcosts and a shorter hospital stay for patients.It is essential to develop a quality system to providethe best possible and reliable care for patients.