Twice-Weekly Structured Interdisciplinary Bedside Rounds and Falls among Older Adult Inpatients
Basic, D., Huynh, E.T., Gonzales, R., Shanley, C.G.
Overview
In a study conducted at a university hospital in Sydney, Australia, the implementation of twice-weekly Structured Interdisciplinary Bedside Rounds (SIBR) led to a significant reduction in the incidence of in-hospital falls among older adult inpatients.
Objectives
To evaluate the impact of twice-weekly Structured Interdisciplinary Bedside Rounds (SIBR) on the rate of in-hospital falls among older adult inpatients.
Methods
The study was a prospective before-after study involving 3,673 consecutive inpatients with a mean age of 83.8 years. It was conducted over a period from January 1, 2013, to September 30, 2015, in two side-by-side aged care wards. SIBR sessions were conducted twice weekly and included a senior doctor, the nursing unit manager, the bedside nurse, and allied health personnel. Each patient interaction lasted 3-5 minutes.
Results
After the implementation of SIBR, the incidence of in-hospital falls decreased from 10.6 falls per 1,000 occupied bed days to 7.4 falls per 1,000 occupied bed days. The implementation of SIBR reduced falls with an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 0.67 (95% CI = 0.52–0.85).
Conclusion
The twice-weekly Structured Interdisciplinary Bedside Rounds (SIBR) effectively reduced the incidence of in-hospital falls among older adult inpatients, demonstrating the value of structured team-based care models in improving patient safety and outcomes.
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