Evaluation of the Implementation of Low-Low Hospital Beds with Respect to Fall Frequency and Patient Harms: A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Low-low beds are commonly recommended for use as fall prevention measures in inpatient settings. However, despite their ubiquity, recent fall prevention guidelines are silent on the use of low-low beds for this purpose. Given these circumstances, and the considerable latency between the publication of evidence and the adoption or abjuring of healthcare quality measures, there remains a clear need for further reporting on this topic. This retrospective quality improvement study sought to identify whether the introduction of low-low hospital beds resulted in changes in the incidence, associated patient harms, or event characteristics of bed-related falls where implemented.