Author ORCID Identifier
Reiter-Palmon https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8259-4516
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-18-2019
Publication Title
Health Services Research
Volume
54
Issue
5
First Page
994
Last Page
1006
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the implementation and outcomes of evidence-based fall-risk-reduction processes when those processes are implemented using a multiteam system (MTS) structure.
Data Sources/Study Setting
Fall-risk-reduction process and outcome measures from 16 small rural hospitals participating in a research demonstration and dissemination study from August 2012 to July 2014. Previously, these hospitals lacked a fall-event reporting system to drive improvement.
Study Design
A one-group pretest-posttest embedded in a participatory research framework. We required hospitals to implement MTSs, which we supported by conducting education, developing an online toolkit, and establishing a fall-event reporting system.
Data Collection
Hospitals used gap analyses to assess the presence of fall-risk-reduction processes at study beginning and their frequency and effectiveness at study end; they reported fall-event data throughout the study.
Principal Findings
The extent to which hospitals implemented 21 processes to coordinate the fall-risk-reduction program and trained staff specifically about the program predicted unassisted and injurious fall rates during the end-of-study period (January 2014-July 2014). Bedside fall-risk-reduction processes were not significant predictors of these outcomes.
Conclusions
Multiteam systems that effectively coordinate fall-risk-reduction processes may improve the capacity of hospitals to manage the complex patient, environmental, and system factors that result in falls.
Recommended Citation
26. Jones, K.J., Skinner, A.M., Venema, D., Crowe, J., High, R., Kennel, V. Allen, J.A., & Reiter-Palmon, R. (2019). Evaluating the multiteam systems to manage the complexity of inpatient falls in rural hospitals. Health Services Research, 54(5), 994-1006. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13186
Comments
This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Evaluating the multiteam systems to manage the complexity of inpatient falls in rural hospitals in the Health and Service Research, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13186. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.