Detect facility-wide trends or a resident with an escalating pattern of injuries.
You can augment your fall tracking and risk management by documenting each resident's fall-related injuries using a format developed by Joanne Rader, RN, MN, FAAN, a consultant in Silverton, OR, who has published research on falls in nursing home settings.
The scoring categories include the following:
0: No injury
1: Minor injury that does not require treatment, including minor bruises and bumps.
2: Moderate injury requiring some intervention provided in the facility, including ice-packs, bandages or Steri-Strips. Injuries would include abrasions, bumps, lacerations and sprains.
3: Moderate injury. The resident is not found to have a severe injury but required additional assessment--for example, a physician visit, an emergency department visit and/or imaging.
4: Severe injury requiring medical intervention with or without hospitalization. Examples include a fracture, concussion, subdural hematoma and laceration requiring suturing.