Join the Falls Prevention Virtual Learning Collaborative

1. Rapid Fire Team Presentation Team Call # 3 Name of Presenter: Sheryl L. Courtoreille, RN, BScN, Quality Improvement Coordinator Join the Falls Prevention Virtual Learning Collaborative

2. Who We Are Name of Organization: Hay River Health & Social Services Authority Location of Facility: Hay River, NT. Number of Patients/Residents/Clients: Acute Care – 19 Extended Care – 10 Woodland Manor Long Term Care - 15

3. AIM • Team Charter: • Reduce incidence of falls (fall rate) by 40% from baseline by March 2011; • Reduce injury from falls by 40% from baseline by March 2011; • For 100% of inpatients to have a Falls Risk Assessment on Admission by March 2011; • For 100% of inpatients who have fallen to have a Post Falls Prevention Injury Reduction Assessment completed by March 2011

4. Baseline Data Percentage of falls causing injuries – 41% Percentage of patients with completed falls risk assessment on admission – 30% Percentage of patients with completed falls risk assessment following a fall – 0% Percentage of “At Risk” patients with a documented falls prevention/injury reduction plan – 20%

5. Team Members • Sue Cullen, CEO – Executive Sponsor • Sheryl L. Courtoreille - Quality Improvement • Coordinator (Lead Contact) • Alex Simms – Occupational Therapist • Jonathan Kennedy – Rehabilitation Aide • Becky Boden, RN – Home Care • Barb Holland, RN – Acute Care • Evelyn Hempal, LPN – Long Term Care

6. Change Ideas • Falls identifiers for “High Risk” clients to be: • in the Care Plan; • outside client room; • at head of client bed; • a yellow star label on spine of the client chart at the • nursing station; and • yellow arm bands (TBA).

7. Measures • There is no direct measurement that is related to our AIM by doing this action • We are not there yet but we will be there soon! • Comments from clients: • “pretty star” • “how true!” • Comments from Staff: • no resistance to doing this action • staff are recognizing the symbol and implementing identifiers on their own • Measure: • To have 100% of our “high risk” clients identified

8. Lessons Learned • What advice would you give to other teams? • In order to implement one change, you may need to do a lot of work and implement other changes to get to your original change; • Ensure any changes/improvements to documentation is realistic; • Don’t underestimate the education component; • Start educating and informing staff of what you are trying to accomplish from the • start of the project – may help with buy-in. • Key Insights: • Keep your Senior Management Team and Management Team abreast of what you • are working on

9. Challenges • What were some barriers? • Staffs’ attitude towards changes and/or the idea of change; • Staff lacking education in Falls Prevention Program and its importance; and • Time needed to dedicate towards this project. • How did you move forward? • Had complete buy in from the Manager of Acute Care & CEO; • Education came in the form of staff meetings with the Manager and one of our team members; • Both were able to field questions and comments from staff; and • Weekly meetings at a standard time to keep on track.

10. Next Steps • Testing a Falls Prevention Injury Reduction Worksheet • Combined the Admission Falls Assessment and Post Falls Assessment onto one sheet; • Reformatted the Morse Falls Assessment so 5 assessments can be completed on 1 page; • Trialing “Bathroom” signs in the client’s rooms on the bathroom doors; • Defining a “Toileting Protocol”; • Transfer card implementation on Acute Care • Transfer belts in every client room • Allow time to pass to survey/audit changes and improvements • Educate, educate, educate!

11. Contact Information • Name: Sheryl L. Courtoreille, RN, BScN., • Quality Improvement Coordinator • Email: sheryl_courtoreille@gov.nt.ca • Phone Number: (867)874-7168