Which is a key strategy for reducing patient falls in healthcare facilities?

• A. Increase bed height to 6 feet
• B. Use fall risk assessment
• C. Remove call bells
• D. Eliminate lighting

Answer: (B)

Assessing who is at risk for falls is essential for preventing falls in healthcare settings. A fall risk assessment done on admission and updated as conditions change identifies patients who have factors that increase fall likelihood—such as limited mobility, balance problems, cognitive impairment, dizziness, recent changes in medications, or a history of falls. Once at-risk patients are identified, the care team can put in place targeted safety measures tailored to each person, like helping with transfers and mobility, ensuring the call bell is within reach, arranging supervised ambulation, using non-slip footwear, and removing environmental hazards. This systematic approach allows resources to be focused where they’re most needed and directly reduces fall risk, whereas options like raising bed height, removing call bells, or eliminating lighting would not promote safety and could increase the chance of a fall.