Authors (including presenting author) :
Yip KWR(1)(2), Wong KTR(1)(2)
Affiliation :
10H Ward, Medicine & Therapeutics Unit, Prince Of Wales Hospital
Introduction :
The incident rate of fall in Medicine and Therapeutics (M&T) ward 10H of Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) remained high in 2020. Inpatient falls in acute care setting is known to increase the length of hospital stays of patients, patient’s mortality rate; and in the worst case, causing lifelong damage of patient or even death. In order to reduce the fall incident in ward 10H, a hourly patrol round system has been introduced to nursing and supporting staffs of ward 10H since 2021.
Objectives :
To reduce the incidence of falls among the in-patients by implementing hourly patrol round system which targeted education, risk assessment, fall prevention training, environmental modifications and ongoing monitoring, thereby enhancing overall safety
Methodology :
A magnetic board was placed on the wall of nursing station while several boxes of different attractive colors of magnetic push pins (24 pieces per each color) were placed on the windowsill of each cubicle end of the ward. Supporting staffs were trained to carry out hourly patrol round and take one magnetic push pin from each cubicle and put it on the magnetic board according to the time and cubicle number marked on the magnetic board. After all the push pins were put on the magnetic board, the nurse in-charge will reset the magnetic push pins into the boxes to ensure all the push pins were taken from the boxes assigned in each cubicles. Through this hourly action of picking up magnetic push pin from cubicles to nursing station, supporting staffs were ensured to patrol each cubicle of ward at least hourly; thus, ensured patient’s condition and fall prevention measures in cubicle was at least observed once hourly. Also, any missing pieces of magnetic push pins on the magnetic board could remind staff that the cubicle had not been patrolled.
After total 8 supporting staff were trained about the patrol round system with return demonstration and all nursing staff in 10H were introduced about the system, the patrol round system was implemented since February of 2021. The ward shift in-charge nurse was asked to monitor the compliance of supporting staff on the patrol round every shift.
The effect of the patrol round system was measured by the incidence rate of fall incident in ward 10H.
Result & Outcome :
The patrol round system was implemented in ward 10H since February of 2021 and the incidence rate of fall incident was significantly reduced.
The patrol round system had a significant effect on reduction of incidence rate of fall incident in acute in-patient setting.
