New AHRQ Training Program Helps Hospital Leaders, Staff and Patients Prevent Falls

A new AHRQ training program is available to help acute-care hospitals prevent patient falls, a leading cause of hospital-acquired conditions. AHRQ’s evidence-based Fall Prevention in Hospitals Training Program is designed for hospital quality improvement staff, patient safety officers and others who seek to reduce falls via a structured fall prevention initiative based on quality improvement principles. Data from 10 hospitals that used the program showed a 14 percent decrease in the average number of falls and a 20 percent decrease in falls with injury during the 1-year period post implementation. Reductions were significantly greater for rehabilitation and geriatric/psychiatric units. Access the training program and implementation guide.