Hospital Fall Prevention Practices and Implementation Strategies: A Multisite Observational Study.

Creator(s)

• Molly McNett
• Emily Cramer, Children's Mercy Kansas CityFollow
• Mona Al Taweel
• Catima Potter
• Lorraine C. Mion
• Ronald I. Shorr
• Kea Turner

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2026

Identifier

DOI: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000001500; PMCID: PMC13195445

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Our study examined the current fall prevention practices and implementation strategies used by the US hospitals.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study of 24 general hospitals and 26 adult general medical units (i.e., medical wards). We administered a survey to obtain an inventory of 5 domains of fall prevention practices currently used: visibility and identification, bed modification, patient monitoring, patient safety, and education. We also measured 5 domains of implementation strategies to enhance staff adherence to the hospital's fall prevention protocol and practices: leadership, provider education, audit-and-feedback, network and collaboration, and local opinion leaders.

RESULTS: Of the 24 hospitals, 58% had < 200 beds and 50% were teaching sites. Hospital leadership had expectations for fall prevention but varied in consistency in types of fall prevention practices and in implementation approaches. Several major themes emerged: heavy reliance on nursing personnel; inconsistency in evidence-based fall prevention practices with an overreliance on less time-intensive, low-value practices; systems designed to support universal rather than patient-tailored fall prevention strategies; and few implementation strategies to enhance uptake and adherence to fall prevention protocols.

CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial variation in US hospitals' choice of fall prevention practices and a lack of implementation strategies to enhance staff adherence to the practices. The findings suggest a critical need for more standardized, evidence-based, and individualized approaches to effectively reduce falls.

Journal Title

J Patient Saf

Volume

22

Issue

6

First Page

448

Last Page

455

MeSH Keywords

Accidental Falls; Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; United States; Guideline Adherence; Patient Safety; Safety Management; Leadership

PubMed ID

41937580

Keywords

fall prevention practices; hospital falls; implementation strategies

Comments

Grants and funding

• R01 AG073408/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States
• UL1 TR002319/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States

Recommended Citation

McNett M, Cramer E, Al Taweel M, et al. Hospital Fall Prevention Practices and Implementation Strategies: A Multisite Observational Study. J Patient Saf. 2026;22(6):448-455. doi:10.1097/PTS.0000000000001500