Hospital falls are a serious problem throughout the United States. Accidental falls are one of the most common incidents reported in hospitals. Research and studies have concluded that hundreds of thousands of patients fall during hospital stays each year in the United States. Our Houston personal injury attorneys take a closer look at hospital fall data in this article.
How Often Do People Fall While in the Hospital?
The rate of hospital falls for adult patients varies depending on the study you review. One study used information and data from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) from July 1, 2006, through September 30, 2008 to study the frequency of hospital falls for adult patients. The results revealed an average rate of 3.56 falls per 1,000 patient days. During the study period, 315,817 falls were reported resulting in 82,232 injuries. The fall and injury rates were the highest in medical units and the lowest in surgical units.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports that 700,000 to one million people fall in U.S. hospitals each year. Roughly one-third of the falls result in an injury, and about 11,000 falls are fatal. A fall in a hospital can add six to seven days to the hospital stay.
While falls among older adults are common, falls in hospitals are not limited to elderly or frail patients. Factors that can increase a patient’s risk of a hospital fall and a hospital fall-related injury include a patient’s age; whether the patient has osteoporosis or a recent fracture; taking anticoagulants or has a bleeding disorder; and, whether the patient as recently undergone surgery. If any of the factors are present, the patient has a higher risk of sustaining a hospital fall and hospital fall-related injury.
What are the Costs of Hospital Falls?
It is estimated that non-fatal falls in adults 65 years and older cost about $50 billion each year. Fatal falls average a cost of $754 million each year. In 2012, it was estimated that the hospitalization cost of a fall injury was $34,294. Another source estimates that the cost for a hospital fall with an injury is roughly $14,000. In 2015, the additional cost for hospitals related to hospital falls and injuries was estimated to be between $2,680 to $15,491 per patient.
In many cases, estimates do not include costs that the patient might incur as a result of the fall. For example, a patient who falls in a hospital might incur additional medical expenses in the future because of injuries sustained in the fall. The patient might also incur an additional loss of income because of an extended hospital stay and additional recovery time. Patients who fall also experience additional pain and suffering damages because of the fall.
Therefore, the actual cost of a hospital fall could be much higher than estimates indicate when you factor in the damages and losses experienced by the patient to the direct costs incurred by the medical facility.
Preventing Hospital Falls and Hospital Fall-Related Injuries
There is much research into effective means of preventing falls and fall-related injuries in hospitals. Ways that hospitals can reduce the risk of falls for patients include:
- Fall risk assessment and screening
- Personalized and tailored care planning based on the patient’s health and needs
- Patient and staff education regarding fall risks
- Providing safe footwear for patients that reduce the risk of falls
- Educating patients on medication side effects that could increase the risk of a fall
Filing Injury Claims Related to Hospital Falls
A hospital may be held liable for damages related to a hospital fall if it committed mistakes, errors, or other wrongdoing that led to a patient’s fall. A personal injury claim related to medical negligence can provide compensation for patients who sustain injuries and damages related to a hospital fall.
Patients may be entitled to receive compensation for:
- Additional medical costs and personal care
- Loss of income
- Future losses and damages
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent impairment or disability
The value of a hospital fall claim can be difficult to calculate. An experienced Houston medical malpractice attorney can help you determine whether you have a claim against the hospital and what the value of your hospital fall claim is worth.
Contact a Houston Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Case Review
If you fell while in the hospital or were otherwise injured because of hospital negligence, mistakes, or errors, we can help. Our legal team investigates hospital injuries and provides legal advice, support, and guidance for injured patients and their families as they seek fair and just compensation from the medical facility that caused their injury.
Contact the Texas personal injury lawyers of the Weycer Law Firm for a free consultation by calling (713) 668-4545.
