“Breaking One’s Fall” – Risk Stratification, Management Techniques, and Patient Safety Initiatives to prevent fall related injuries in the Interventional Radiology setting.

●      To describe factors which may place patients at increased risk of fall-related periprocedural complications.

●      To outline methods for risk stratification and provide practice improvement techniques to mitigate preventable fall-related injuries in the interventional radiology (IR) setting.



Background:

In-hospital falls are a serious problem, ranking sixth among sentinel events reported to the Joint Commission in 2008. In the hospital setting and in IR, patients are at a greater risk of falls due to acute illnesses, medications, poor mentation, inherent pain, and/or unfamiliarity with the hospital environment. Even though IR procedures are minimally invasive, it may be necessary for patients to move and change positioning for optimal procedural safety and effectiveness. Patients may also be at risk of fall-related injuries as a result of insufficient or excessive periprocedural sedation and/or general anesthesia. Unintended falls pose a considerable risk to patients, their families, and care providers, as well as increase hospital liability exposure. In light of the substantial morbidity associated with fall-related injuries, interventional radiologists and IR personnel should understand the causes and predisposing risk factors associated with falls, as well as the common injuries sustained after falling in interventional radiology departments.

Clinical Findings/Procedure Details:

i.               Overview of risk factors contributing to in-hospital patient falls.

ii.              Recommendations for stratifying IR patients based on predisposing risk factors.

iii.             Best-In-Practice performances measures to prevent and mitigate fall related injuries.

iv.             Suggestions on how to implement fall-related patient safety initiatives in both the academic and private practice interventional radiology settings.


Conclusion and/or Teaching Points:

Peri-procedural falls are rare but preventable occurrences in interventional radiology departments, but can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Having a comprehensive understanding of patient fall incidence, associated risk factors, and reduction techniques, as well as implementing patient safety initiatives can improve patient care in interventional radiology.