Hospital falls are recognized as an important patient safety issue and unfortunately account for the majority of reportable events. Despite having fall prevention strategies in place, many falls occurred at Hartford Hospital, an 800-plus bed inner-city teaching hospital in Hartford, Con-necticut, A quest for change from a culture of tolerance for falls to one of serious fall preven-tion began.
In April of 2008, an innovative volunteer program was designed and implemented. The Fall Prevention – Safety Monitor Volunteer Program was designed to utilize trained volunteers for the enhancement of a safe environment for patients through the inspection of the high fall risk patient’s environment, monitoring of staff compliance with fall prevention protocol and remind-ing the patient of his/her role in fall prevention. The intentions and goals of the program are to reduce patient falls by increasing staff accountability for fall prevention while reinforcing the involvement of patient and family in creating and maintaining a safe environment.
Over the past three years, efforts spearheaded by our Falls Prevention Team have reduced the total number of inpatient falls by 47 percent and reduced falls with injury by 71 percent. Staff compliance with fall-prevention protocol has improved significantly from 50% to 90%.We attribute much of this success to our Safety Monitor Volunteer Program.
Medical Equipment Recycling Program (MERP)
Joni Murray, CAVS
Manager, Education and Volunteer Services
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Horizon - Farrell, PA
The Medical Equipment Recycling Program of UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) Horizon was established over a decade ago. Their mission is to help area resi-dents, who live with physical challenges to obtain needed medical equipment (such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds, bathroom equipment.) to increase their independence. MERP provides refurbished medical equipment to those who lack the insurance coverage or financial means to purchase new equipment. Recipients often re-donate the equipment when they are finished with it and the cycle of giving continues.
MERP has two locations and utilizes hospital volunteers to clean, refurbish and transport equipment, as well as assist with clerical duties. Over the past decade, MERP has donated more than 5,000 pieces of equipment to more than 4,000 area residents. The volunteers often state that they are happy to donate their time to help fellow community residents that are less fortunate and in need.
The program is funded primarily by a grant from the UPMC Horizon Community Health Foundation.
