Fall Risk Assessment

What?

A fall risk assessment (screening tool) can help staff identify patients who are at risk for falls.

Why?

There are many different factors that may increase a patient’s risk for a fall. A fall risk assessment tool and process to administer the tool can systematically identify these factors. The assessment of fall risk factors supports clinical decision making and allows staff to target interventions based on patient-specific risk factors for individualized care planning.

How?

Several fall risk assessment and screening tools are available for you to consider. Each facility is unique, so we do not endorse one tool over another. Look for an assessment tool that considers a wide variety of dimensions relevant to fall risk reduction. Consider the predictive validity of a tool and whether that validity should be examined with a retrospective sample of typical patients from your own hospital. Finally, develop a standardized process to administer the fall risk assessment tool to patients on a regular basis.