NURS FPX 8030 Assessment 1 Building the Case for Healthcare Improvement

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX 8030 Evidence-Based Practice Process for the Nursing Doctoral Learner

Prof. Name

Date

Building the Case for Health Care Improvement

[Slide 1]

Hello everyone! My name is ___, and today I will address a critical patient safety concern at Henry Ford Hospital (HFH): the growing issue of patient falls. This presentation will outline the increasing occurrence of inpatient falls using both external evidence and internal hospital data. I will also recommend evidence-based interventions designed to improve patient outcomes and enhance patient safety standards.

Presentation Outline

[Slide 2]

The presentation will cover the following areas:

• Overview of the patient safety issue
• External evidence supporting the need for change
• Importance of the issue within the organization
• Proposal for a quality improvement initiative

Patient Safety Issue

[Slide 3]

Inpatient falls represent a significant patient safety challenge in healthcare systems globally, with HFH experiencing similar concerns. The consistent rise in fall incidents within acute care settings across U.S. hospitals has led to increased patient harm and rising healthcare costs. Jewell et al. (2020) report that falls frequently cause severe injuries such as fractures, contributing to extended hospital stays and higher care expenses. Dykes et al. (2023) emphasized the financial impact, citing patient fall-related costs ranging from \$351 to \$13,616 per case, affecting approximately 900,635 patients. The risk is particularly pronounced for older adults, who are vulnerable due to comorbidities, medication effects, and muscle weakness (Heng et al., 2020). Addressing this rising safety issue is vital for improving patient care outcomes and reducing healthcare burdens.

[Slide 4]

Within HFH’s acute care department, patient falls are especially concerning among individuals aged 65 and older. Internal hospital reports indicate that approximately 20% of patients in this age group experience falls leading to serious injuries. Additionally, about one-fifth of these patients succumb to fall-related complications, such as bone fractures, within a year (HFH, 2024). Data from the previous year show that 30% of elderly inpatients experienced fall-related harm, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. These events are directly linked to extended hospital stays and greater utilization of healthcare resources (HFH, 2024).

External Sources Support for Need of Change

[Slide 5]

External data further stress the importance of fall prevention in healthcare settings. According to a 2024 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2019, one in ten falls caused injury among older adults, accounting for 83% of hip fracture-related deaths and 88% of emergency department visits and hospital admissions for this demographic (CDC, 2024). These national patterns mirror the challenges faced at HFH’s acute care units.

Additionally, Heng et al. (2020) reviewed inpatient fall prevention strategies and demonstrated that interventions like patient education significantly lower fall incidence. Morris et al. (2022) systematically reviewed multiple studies and found that evidence-based measures, including environmental adjustments, staff training, and patient education, can reduce inpatient falls by approximately 30%. These findings directly apply to HFH, where recent data reflected a 3.4% increase in inpatient falls, registering a score of 0.164 in 2023. Implementing evidence-backed interventions can improve patient safety outcomes and align HFH practices with national benchmarks.

Organizational Priority for Intervention

[Slide 6]

Preventing patient falls has become a strategic priority at HFH due to its implications for patient safety, clinical outcomes, and healthcare costs. Key stakeholders, including hospital administrators and clinical staff, particularly nurses, recognize the financial and reputational risks associated with high fall rates (Bernet et al., 2022). Fall-related injuries often result in longer hospital stays, additional surgical procedures, and increased medication use, all of which drive up care costs. Severe injuries, such as fractures and head trauma, can extend recovery periods and elevate morbidity and mortality rates (Jewell et al., 2020). Patients and their families expect safe and high-quality care, and repeated fall incidents can erode public trust in the healthcare system. Furthermore, hospitals risk legal consequences and jeopardized accreditation if standard safety protocols are inadequately maintained (Bernet et al., 2022).

Proposal of Quality Improvement Project

[Slide 7]

The proposed initiative aims to reduce the incidence of falls and fall-related injuries at HFH by implementing comprehensive, evidence-based prevention strategies. These strategies include structured risk assessments, optimizing the physical care environment, deploying assistive devices, and offering both staff and patient education programs (Morris et al., 2022). The primary goal is to achieve at least a 45% reduction in fall rates, aligning HFH’s performance with current clinical guidelines and national safety benchmarks. The anticipated outcome includes improved patient safety, better clinical results, and a reduction in costs associated with treating fall-related injuries.

[Slide 8]

The quality improvement project will deliver multifaceted benefits such as enhanced patient outcomes, increased patient satisfaction, and reduced healthcare expenses. Dykes et al. (2023) found that applying evidence-based fall prevention protocols not only decreased fall rates but also minimized related care costs. HFH’s internal data support these findings, indicating that environmental modifications alone can reduce falls by about one-third (HFH, 2021). Through adopting these preventive measures, HFH can reinforce its reputation as a leading healthcare institution committed to safety and clinical excellence.

Conclusion

[Slide 9]

Implementing evidence-driven fall prevention initiatives at HFH is essential for improving patient safety, reducing healthcare costs, and maintaining the hospital’s esteemed reputation. Addressing the rising trend in fall-related injuries through targeted, research-based interventions will enable HFH to lower fall rates, improve clinical outcomes, and enhance patient and staff satisfaction. The proposed quality improvement plan, supported by both internal hospital data and external scholarly research, highlights the urgent need to upgrade fall prevention strategies within the hospital setting.

References

Bernet, N. S., Everink, I. H., Schols, J. M., Halfens, R. J., Richter, D., & Hahn, S. (2022). Hospital performance comparison of inpatient fall rates; the impact of risk adjusting for patient-related factors: A multicentre cross-sectional survey. BioMed Central Health Services Research, 22(1), 225. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07638-7

NURS FPX 8030 Assessment 1 Building the Case for Healthcare Improvement

CDC. (2024). Facts about falls—Older adult fall prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/falls/data-research/facts-stats/index.html

Dykes, P. C., Curtin-Bowen, M., Lipsitz, S., Franz, C., Adelman, J., Adkison, L., Bogaisky, M., Carroll, D., Carter, E., Herlihy, L., Mary Ellen Lindros, Ryan, V., Scanlan, M., Walsh, M.-A., Wien, M., & Bates, D. W. (2023). Cost of inpatient falls and cost-benefit analysis of implementation of an evidence-based fall prevention program. JAMA Health Forum, 4(1), e225125–e225125. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.5125

Heng, H., Jazayeri, D., Shaw, L., Kiegaldie, D., Hill, A.-M., & Morris, M. E. (2020). Hospital falls prevention with patient education: A scoping review. BioMed Central Geriatrics, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01515-w

HFH. (2021). Henry Ford Hospital launches program to enhance patient safety, reduce workplace injuries. Henryford.com. https://www.henryford.com/news/2021/06/project-mobility

HFH. (2024). After a Fall. Henryford.com. https://www.henryford.com/services/senior/after-a-fall

Jewell, V. D., Capistran, K., Flecky, K., Qi, Y., & Fellman, S. (2020). Prediction of falls in acute care using the Morse Fall Risk Scale. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 34(4), 307–319. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2020.1815928

NURS FPX 8030 Assessment 1 Building the Case for Healthcare Improvement

Morris, M. E., Webster, K., Jones, C., Hill, A.-M., Haines, T., McPhail, S., Kiegaldie, D., Slade, S., Jazayeri, D., Heng, H., Shorr, R., Carey, L., Barker, A., & Cameron, I. (2022). Interventions to reduce falls in hospitals: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Age and Ageing, 51(5). https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afac077