NURS FPX 6414 Assessment 1 Conference Poster Presentation

Student Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX 6414 Advancing Health Care Through Data Mining

Prof. Name

Date

Abstract

Healthcare professionals are dedicated to improving patient outcomes, particularly by prioritizing and maintaining patient safety. Falls pose a significant risk, especially among individuals aged 65 and older in the United States, resulting in millions seeking emergency room treatment annually. Factors contributing to falls among the elderly include confusion, mobility limitations, and urgent toileting needs, both within and outside hospital settings.

Within hospitals, hundreds of thousands of patients experience falls each year, with incidence rates ranging from 3.5 to 9.5 falls per 1000 bed days. Studies have identified specific patient profiles, such as those with mental or physical impairments and incontinence, at the highest risk of falls.

To address this issue, OhioHealth’s informatics team developed the Schmid tool to identify high-risk individuals and implement preventive measures. This study evaluates the Schmid tool’s effectiveness in enhancing patient safety and healthcare outcomes through data-driven informatics models.

Introduction

Each year, millions of adults seek emergency department care due to fall-related injuries. Hospitalized patients also face significant risks of falling, contributing to extended stays and increased healthcare costs. The Schmid tool is instrumental in identifying high-risk patients by considering mobility, cognition, toileting abilities, history of falls, and medication usage, aiming to enhance patient safety and healthcare outcomes.

Analyzing the Use of the Informatics Model

The Schmid fall risk scale categorizes patients’ fall risk based on mobility, cognition, toileting abilities, and medication usage. Subcategories within mobility include mobile, mobile with assistance, unstable, and immobile. Cognition is assessed as alert, occasionally confused, always confused, or unresponsive. Toileting abilities range from completely independent to incontinent, while medication usage categories include various medications or none.

Literature Review

In-hospital falls remain a significant concern, leading to patient harm, increased injury and fatality rates, and rising healthcare costs. Recent studies emphasize the need for social support networks and fall prevention initiatives for older patients, as falls are the primary cause of injury and mortality among individuals aged 65 and older in the United States.

Conclusion

The comprehensive approach outlined in this study has the potential to significantly reduce hospital falls, addressing falls as a leading cause of death in the United States. By employing informatics models, particularly in the development and implementation of tools like the Schmid tool, reductions in fall incidence can be achieved.

NURS FPX 6414 Assessment 1 Conference Poster Presentation