A Research Proposal on Reducing Patient Falls and Fall-related Injuries among Patients in the ICU at Stanford Health Facility

Falls among patients in the intensive care unit present a major challenge for healthcare systems. Falls-related injuries are on the rise, negatively impacting patient health and increasing suffering. There is a strong correlation between patient falls with health outcomes of hospitalized patients, an extension of the hospitalization periods, and a rise in medical healthcare expenditure. The incidence of falls is high, particularly among older and frail patients in the ICU. Most patient falls in the ICU are caused by several factors depending on the individual patient. Patients in the ICU are critically ill, unstable and some are unconscious. ICU patients are more predisposed to falls and related injuries than patients in other hospital units. These patients cannot support themselves, thus at more risk of falling. Due to the burden created by falls and related injuries to the healthcare system and the patient, necessary measures and strategies must be identified and implemented to reduce patient falls and fall-related injuries in the ICU. Proper prevention and control of patient falls in the ICU would improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital stays among the patients, and reduce costs spent on managing patient injuries caused by the falls. Most patients sustain serious injuries when they fall. The health condition of the patient, combined with the hospital setting, plays a vital role in determining the risk factors for injuries related to falls. Data from the literature on specific interventions for reducing falls and fall-related injuries among critically ill and unstable conscious is lacking, hence the need to study preventive and control measures for reducing falls and fall-related injuries among patients in the ICU.