Affiliation:
1. Department of the Army Human Engineering Laboratory Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
2. State University of New York at Albany Albany, New York
Abstract
The purpose of this paper was to examine, through the use of quantitative research and a comparative literature review, the incidence of patient falls, particularly among the elderly, within a healthcare facility. Patient incident reports revealed the presence of environmental and patient conditions which appeared related to the occurrence of such accidents. Among these were fall location, associated patient activity, equipment, patient environmental orientation, mental status and time of day. Design improvements in the following areas were suggested: door “hold-open” devices, floor surface, equipment mobility, footwear design, nursing supervision, patient mental and physical assessment, lighting, environmental markings, and doorway and furniture design.