When are Fall Risk assessments typically performed?

Fall Risk assessments are typically performed after every fall or near fall to ensure that the patient's current risk level is accurately evaluated and appropriate interventions can be implemented. This practice allows healthcare providers to respond promptly to any changes in a patient's condition that may affect their stability and safety. By reassessing a patient after a fall, healthcare teams can identify any new risk factors or exacerbations of existing issues, such as medication changes, mobility limitations, or environmental hazards, and adjust care plans accordingly to prevent future incidents.

Other timings for assessments, such as performing them only on admission or solely at the beginning of each shift, could overlook significant changes in a patient's condition that occur throughout their stay. Similarly, limiting assessments to transfers to another facility fails to capture important data that could be critical for ensuring patient safety in the current environment. Therefore, conducting Fall Risk assessments after any fall or near fall allows for a proactive and responsive approach to patient safety.