Leveraging virtual observation technology to transform patient care and reduce falls

Health care organizations continue to face staffing constraints related to workforce shortages, forcing them to leverage technology to provide safe and cost-effective care with limited resources. This article describes how one campus in an academic health system decreased its fall rate through proactive assessment and the utilization of virtual technology. A multidisciplinary steering committee, a structured change management approach, staff education, and the integration of a Best Practice Advisory in the electronic health record supported adoption of virtual constant observation (VCO). In addition to improving patient fall rates, VCO positively impacted nursing staffing models and saved costs.