National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) (Nursing Care Center / Nursing Care Center)
Fall Reduction Program - Effect of Medications
Publish | January 01, 0001
Must we consider the effect of medications on patients'/residents' risk of falling?
NPSG.09.02.01 9B requires the implementation of a fall reduction program. Consideration of a patient's/residents' medication regimen is important in most settings including certain ambulatory settings (e.g., primary care, dialysis, surgery) in which:
- The medication regimen is known (see standard MM.01.01.01, EP 1, and NPSG.08.01.01 which require organizations to obtain a list of the patient/resident's current medications); and,
- Staff is competent to consider medication effect in relation to falls.It may not be appropriate or necessary in other settings (e.g., phlebotomy, diagnostic radiology) where the above are not the case. In these settings, consideration of gait, balance, cognition, and Environmental factors that may contribute to falls may be more important considerations for a fall reduction program.
It is helpful to identify some of the drugs/drug classes that are most frequently associated with increased risk of falling. Some suggested medication classifications are: hypnotics, sedatives, analgesics, psychotropics, antihypertensives, laxatives and diuretics. Please consider not only the class of drug, but the number of drugs (polypharmacy) and the potential for additive effects when they accumulate in the body that also increases risk.
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