b'FOCUS ON FALLSDaniela Acosta is Manager of Education and Knowledge Translation and was the initial lead for the BPSO. While all our frontline staff are trained in how toFalls prevention resourcesrespond, proper procedures are sometimes not followed in the heat of the moment, she says. Studies show that simulation-based training can be anThrough the BPSO partnership, RNAO effective reminder. published an evidence booster about Along with a colleague, Acosta designed and delivered a series of 30-minutePerley Healths Comfort Care Rounding workshops to frontline staff. Each workshop featured a simulated fall, ainitiative. Visit RNAO.ca and enter debriefing and a survey. The rates of falls declined again for a short period.Evidence Boosters Autumn 2017 in the Overall, fall rates declined from 23% in 2017 to 16% in 2024. search bar.Perley Health delivers a modified version of the simulation-based trainingAn RNAO webinar provides information as part of its orientation for newly hired nurses and plans to scale up theabout the simulation-based training program this fall.initiative. Visit RNAO.ca and enter Quality improvement is an ongoing journey, says Acosta. You tryWebinar simulation in the search bar.something new, analyze the results and adopt practices that are provenA follow-up study, published in the effective. Then you start the cycle all over again. LTCT Journal of Nursing Care Quality in April/Visit perleyhealth.ca/centre of excellence for evidence-based resourcesJune 2022, documented the positive on falls prevention and other topics to support teams in long-term care oreffects of the simulation-based training contact centreofexcellence@perleyhealth.ca. on frontline staff.KEY ELEMENTS IMPLEMENTED BY PERLEY HEALTHFall prevention Include the resident and their substitute Use a standardized falls risk identificationdecision makers, if possible. scale, on admission, quarterly, after a fall andComplete an incident report and update theafter a change in status. residents care plan.Continue to monitor the resident for 72 hours Personalize fall and injury prevention interventions based on the residentsand document status.modifiable risk factors and choices.Involve interprofessional team members forConduct hourly comfort care rounding tofall prevention support, as needed. proactively meet the needs of the resident andProgram highlightsscan the environment. Facility-wide simulation-based fall preventionDuring a fall training exercises are completed on the units Provide comfort and reassurance to for nurses and PSWs. The team supportsthe resident.residents who choose to live with risk.Residents and their substitute decision makers Complete a full head-to-toe physicalassessment and neurological assessment ifare engaged in fall prevention planning.suspected that the resident has hit their head.Every departments role is outlined in the fallIf appropriate, move the resident using aprevention policy. mechanical lift. Fall prevention and response training is tailored to every department and incorporated Reassess the resident for injuries, post-transfer. Complete vitals in both sitting and standinginto orientation. Documentation tools, including the incident position, if possible.Contact the residents most responsible report, are custom designed to force function the post-fall processes to ensure all stepscare providers. are completed.Post-fall In addition to the post-fall huddle,interprofessional fall prevention meetings Within 24 hours:Re-administer the standardized falls riskare completed for residents who fall often toidentification scale. reevaluate their personalized interventions.Complete an interprofessional post-fallAudits that reflect ministry requirements arehuddle and mini-route cause analysis.run occasionally.52 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Fall/Winter 2024'