Authors: (including presenting author): :
Lai ML(1), Chu CY(1), Lau WH(1), Law KW(1), Lo MY(1), Lam PH(1), Tse WY(1)
Leung WK(1), Leung SY(1), Leung KW(1)
Affiliation: :
(1) Department of Family Medicine, NTEC
Keyword 1: :
Fall prevention
Keyword 2: :
Family Medicine Clinic
Introduction: :
Falls can lead to serious physical injuries, increased healthcare costs, and reduced mobility. In outpatient settings, preventing patient fall incident is particularly challenging, as patient predisposing risk factors and environmental risk in clinic are not immediately obvious and may be overlooked. In response, a continuous quality improvement project was implemented to enhance a safer outpatient environment by identifying risk factors, establishing preventive measures e.g., environmental modifications, staff education and promoting patient awareness in fall prevention.
Objectives: :
1.To reduce the fall incidents among NTEC FMCs
2.To collect and evaluate fall incident data for ongoing improvement
3.To increase the awareness of fall prevention strategies among staff and patients
Methodology: :
In Jan 2024, a fall prevention work group was formed from quality and safety management team. 1.The team identified the mandatory items to be included in the data collection, including age, sex, location, time of incident, mobility status, fall history, mobility and cognitive status and consequences of the falls. All data have collected and analyzed to identify the contributing factors. 2.A tailored environmental fall prevention checklist was developed. Weekly inspections were conducted and remedial actions were taken if risks were identified such as uneven floor. 3.Mandatory training sessions were provided, focusing on fall risk awareness, assessment, and prevention strategies.
Result & Outcome: :
1. The number of falls decreased from 17 in 2024 to 12 in 2025, achieving a significant reduction rate of 29.4%.
2. The “fall black spots” were identified, including areas in proximity to the treatment room/consultation room (47%) & the shroff /pharmacy counter (29%), and in the waiting hall (18%). A fall prevention poster was designed and displayed in these high-risk areas, along with a voice-over announcement broadcasting to remind patients and visitors to avoid rushing and walk with caution in clinic areas.
3. 75% of falls occurred during specific peak times at 10:00-11:30 and 14:30-15:00. Thus, additional staff were allocated to manage patient flow in these periods.
4. Four falls were related to environmental risk factors including mobile curtain, chair legs and equipment near doorways, leading to remedial actions.
