Abstract
Purpose: The main objective of this paper is, to assess environment, care process, and patient-related factors associated with patient falls. The study also aims at identifying various factors that would affect inpatient falls and, therefore, helping both caregivers and designers contribute to better prevent inpatient falls in their own areas of expertise. Methods: A retrospective analysis of inpatient falls that occurred in the unit of General Medicine in the United States has been conducted and environment, care process, patient-related factors associated with those falls have been analyzed at the same time. Results: The study identified several factors associated with inpatient falls. They range from environmental factors to care process- and patient-related factors. Patient visibility and patient accessibility can matter to patient falls and where those falls occur, along with patient days per room, the percentage of patient days with high fall risk patients per room, the percentage of high fall risk patients per room. Implications: The findings of the study can provide design implications that can be incorporated into design process and design decisions to promote fall prevention in inpatient care units. Inpatient falls can be effectively reduced when caregivers and designers work together to understand the complex nature of inpatient falls and the importance of multidisplinary efforts among various experts in the areas of healthcare.