The Fall Injury Prevention and Management Clinical Guideline and Toolkit outlines the scope, principles, definitions and responsibilities for effective falls prevention systems. It establishes a consistent, embedded approach to the prevention and management of falls across SA Health services.

Falls risk assessment and care planning

Risk screening, assessment and care planning are foundational practices for health professionals to prevent falls and minimise harm from falls. Staff should use the SA Health MR 58 forms (for adult use) or EMR/community equivalents as part of everyday clinical practice.

Videos and information about using the paper based forms is included in the Falls Prevention eLearning course.

Staff should consider Tool 2 - When and how to do fall risk screening, assessment, care-planning and discharge planning (PDF 142KB).

Minimising harm from falls

Preventing falls and planning to minimise the harm caused by falls, can significantly improve consumer recovery and health outcomes.

Key ways to minimise the harm caused to consumers from a fall include:

  • support consumers to have a healthy balance of food, fluids, and mobility at home and while in hospital. Patients with cognitive impairment may need help with these tasks.
  • make small changes to your patients’ surroundings for big impacts to minimise risk
    • While in hospital orientate the patient to the call bell and provide a regular toileting routine if required
    • Keep items such as drinks, food, TV remotes, glasses within easy reach
    • Declutter and ensure adequate lighting
    • Have the right equipment available such as walking aids, sensor mats or poles, fall mats and shower chairs
    • Ensure safe and well-fitting shoes are worn. Non-slip socks are only to be used as part of an individualised care plan developed after a comprehensive risk assessment.
  • patients with a cognitive impairment can fall from a significant height if climbing over a bed rail, resulting in fracture or head injury. Use the Bed Rail matrix to understand the level of risk for your patient. Remember to include allied health, the medical team and the patient’s family in decisions about bed rails
  • a patient review with a multi-disciplinary team, or a repeat home risk assessment, after the first fall is more likely to minimise harm in the future and prevent subsequent falls.

Posters

Falls prevention posters in English

Some of these posters are available in languages other than English.

Translated posters

Chinese

Greek

Italian

Polish

Vietnamese

SA Health recognises that skilled and knowledgeable staff are essential for the effective delivery of services that aim to reduce the risk of falls and injury from falls during care and across the community.

eLearning course - Falls Prevention and Management

This course is for all SA Health staff involved in direct care and will assist in the translation of the national guidelines into practice, and to meet accreditation requirements. It includes additional resource materials for Falls Prevention Leaders and others to use as reference.

This course will enable learners to:

  • recognise the importance of preventing falls and harm from falls
  • identify common risk factors, high risk situations and conditions
  • identify appropriate multifactorial action
  • take action following a fall incident
  • identify actions to engage consumers and carers.

The eLearning course contains videos that explain all of the SA Health Falls Prevention tools including screening, assessment, care planning and post fall team review.

The Falls Prevention online course is available to all SA Health employees. Please visit the SA Health Safety and Quality elearning courses intranet page.

Contact

Safety and Quality
Telephone: (08) 8226 9599(08) 8226 9599
Email: Health.DHWClinicalGovernanceEnquiries@sa.gov.au