A reduction in repeat falls in a private psychiatric hospital.

Abstract

Falls are of particular concern in psychiatric hospitals where many patients are taking psychotropic medication that may produce postural hypotension. The research considered falls in a private psychiatric hospital before and after the introduction of a hospital policy to measure blood pressure, both lying and standing, after a patient had fallen. Falls, and the injuries associated with them, occurred predominantly among elderly patients. The results of the study showed that the introduction of the policy resulted in more frequent measurement of blood pressure and was associated with fewer repeat falls.