Predictors of serious fall injury in hospitalized patients.

The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of falls that result in serious injury in hospitalized patients. The study involved secondary data analysis of 1,438 patient falls in a community hospital system between 2008 and 2010. The analysis included demographics, severity of illness, diagnosis-related group (surgical vs. medical), event type (bathroom, bed, chair, transfer, ambulating), risk factors identified by the Hendrich II fall risk assessment prior to the fall (confusion, depression, altered elimination, dizziness, antiepileptic or benzodiazepine medications), and contributing factors identified through an online event reporting system post-fall (incontinence, confusion, history of falls, alteration in mobility, and medication-related). Logistic regression results indicated that the overall model was a good fit and two predictors, age greater than 64 and male gender, were statistically reliable in predicting which patient falls would result in serious injury.

Defining and monitoring indwelling catheter-related urinary tract infections.

Defining and monitoring infection rates in home care is of major importance with the implementation of Adverse Event Outcome Reports. This study identifies the collective effort of home care quality improvement nurses in defining standard indicators for urinary tract infections and the ways to monitor these infections within and across home care agencies for evaluation and benchmarking.