Last week, I wrote about preventing patient falls in hospitals, but I came across some more interesting facts that I thought I'd share. Because I love statistics and facts.

And these are good ones:

1. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2007, more than 18,000 older adults died from injuries resulting from a fall
2. Up to 50% of hospitalized patients are at risk for falls, and almost half of those who fall suffer an injury
3. Despite heightened national attention to patient falls, threats to reimbursement, and the best possible intentions, patient fall rates across the United States continue to escalate, putting patients and caregivers at increasing risk
4. The average hospital stay for patients who fall is 12.3 days longer, and injuries from falls lead to a 61% increase in patient care costs
5. In 2007, the average cost per fall with injury was $33,894
6. CMS has identified “falls and trauma” on its current list of hospital-acquired conditions for which reimbursement will be limited; specifically falls that result in trauma fracture dislocations, and intra-cranial injuries
7. Fall-related injuries accounted for more than $2 million ED visits of patients over 65 years old
8. The national cost of fall-related injuries is approximately $7 billion for emergency and inpatient care

Again, many hospitals across the country are making process improvements to reduce patient falls.  But there's real value in looking at how the design of the built environment also can contribute to falls. Read my post from last week to find out more.

Thanks to Susan Whitehurst, MSN, RJN, MBB, Senior Consultant and Project Manager for the Joint Commission Resources Partnership for Patients Hospital Engagement Network, for compiling these facts.

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