Article

Orthostatic Vital Signs Algorithm: Decreasing Falls in Patients Undergoing Blood and Marrow Transplantation or Treatment With Cellular Immunotherapy

Lisa Grady

John Klein

Amy Patterson

Crystal Pompos

Richard R. Reich

Tina M. Mason

fall prevention, blood and marrow transplantation, cellular immunotherapy, falls
CJON 2020, 24(5), 489-494. DOI: 10.1188/20.CJON.489-494

Background: Falls experienced by patients undergoing blood and marrow transplantation or treatment with cellular immunotherapy (BMT-CI) may result in injury or death. An algorithm was developed using the patient fall circumstances identified in a chart analysis from 2016.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine if the Moffitt BMT-CI Orthostatic Vital Signs Algorithm could decrease inpatient falls.

Methods: A pre-/post-test program evaluation was conducted for one year pre- and postimplementation of the algorithm on newly admitted inpatients. Adherence rate of nurses using the algorithm was monitored.

Findings: Overall falls decreased from 5.38% to 3.44%, with zero falls or injuries related to orthostasis for newly admitted patients. Adherence of nurses using the algorithm increased from 60% to 93%. The fall rate has been sustained less than baseline with 100% adherence, and the algorithm has been adopted as standard of practice.

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