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.
- Fall and injury risk assessment form (MR58) (PDF 531KB) - As well as identifying the consumer's risk factors for falls and injury at and during hospital admission, the form includes recommendations for care-planning and actions for safe set-up of the consumer’s ward environment
- Falls risk review form (MR58a) (PDF 547KB) - can be used each shift, as risk factors change, to indicate a summary of the actions currently in place in an inpatient setting.
- Falls risk screening form (MR58B) (PDF 506KB) - a tool for use in adult emergency departments and other adult ambulatory and day patient services (usually numbered MR58b).
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
- Is your patient at risk of falls? Plan their care with a falls risk assessment (PDF 548KB)
- Falls are preventable. We all have a role to play (PDF 652KB)
- Prevent falls by keeping active and maintain balance (PDF 245KB)
- Tips to prevent falls when in public places (PDF 245KB)
- Everyday tips to stay healthy and prevent falls (PDF 541KB)
- Set yourself up to stay independent at home (PDF 125KB)
- Eyesight and tips to see clearly (PDF 458KB)
- Prevent falls with safe shoes (PDF 254KB)
- Keeping your child safe from falling in hospital (PDF 304KB)
Some of these posters are available in languages other than English.
Translated posters
Chinese
Greek
- Everyday tips to stay healthy and prevent falls (PDF 258KB)
- Prevent falls with safe shoes (PDF 67KB)
- See clearly to prevent falls (PDF 337KB)
Italian
- Everyday tips to stay healthy and prevent falls (PDF 223KB)
- Prevent falls with safe shoes (PDF 376KB)
- See clearly to prevent falls (PDF 341KB)
Polish
- Everyday tips to stay healthy and prevent falls (PDF 274KB)
- See clearly to prevent falls (PDF 340KB)
Vietnamese
- Everyday tips to stay healthy and prevent falls (PDF 290KB)
- See clearly to prevent falls (PDF 344KB)
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