It is estimated that one-third of elderly people fall each year', with general agreement that there are many associated factors.
This collaborative approach of occupational therapy and nursing staff aimed to reduce the number of patients falling while they were hospital inpatients. This paper discusses the findings of the falls audit and presents the 'Fall STOP' falls prevention program that was initiated.
A retrospective audit of inpatient falls at the Gold Coast Hospital was conducted in August 1996.
From the first audit a number of high risk patient groups, activities, and ward environments were identified and a falls prevention program implemented. A second audit conducted two years later demonstrated a decrease in falls and related injuries. The outcomes revealed that fewer people were falling, and when they did fall, fewer injuries were reported.
Incident reporting by staff was used to determine rates of falls, and may under-represent the true rate of falls.