Volume 11 April Falls Issue Newsletter of the NSW Falls ...fallsnetwork.neura.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/April-Falls... · nurses’ station and in an area of high visibility

Falls Network Information 28

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APRILFALLS LINKSVolume 11 April Falls Issue Newsletter of the NSW Falls Prevention Network

Special Edition Falls Links Newsletter This newsletter highlights some of the activities that occurred in NSW Local Health Districts throughout April 2016 as part of April Falls Day®/Month 2016

We thank all staff and organisations who actively participated in April Falls Day®/Month activities in hospital, community and residential care services in their Local Health Districts.

We also thank the LHD Falls Prevention Co-ordinators and other staff who collated and forwarded April Falls reports and photos.

Inside this Issue

CEC April Falls Day® 2016 2

April Falls Day®/Month Reports from LHDs 3

Welcome April Falls Day®/Month

Share the care: Falls Prevention is everyone’s business®

fallsnetwork.neura.edu.au

Flashmob at Westpoint Shopping Centre

April Falls Day®/Month 2016 NSW Falls Prevention Network

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Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) April Falls Day®/Month ActivitiesThis year’s theme focused on involving everyone in the care of the older person - patients, family, carer, doctors, nurses, allied health staff - to prevent falls and keep older people safe. Carers in particular can provide health staff with some vital information about the health of the person they are caring for.

The CEC supports LHDs with resources for April Falls Day® including:• Poster and flyers for patients, family, carers and staff

• To support staff education power point presentations were developed. These were downloaded and used throughout the state.

An April Falls Month Competition was run for the first time from the CEC. We were encouraged by the number and high level of competition entries. The winners and runners up were presented with a certificate and chance to present at the NSW Falls Prevention Network Forum in Sydney in May. The presentations can be viewed on NSW Falls Prevention network website: at:http://fallsnetwork.neura.edu.au/events/2016-events/

The Winners were: Jane- Maree Hunter and Jan Crawley from the Medical Ward 5, Gosford Hospital, Central Coast LHDTheir strategies included: • High falls risk patients are placed in a room that is close to the

nurses’ station and in an area of high visibility to all staff. • 2 Staff members are allocated solely to this room on all shifts and

one staff member must remain in the room at all times. • Music therapy has been introduced to this room which has had a

settling effect on many patients.

NSW Falls Prevention Network April Falls Day®/Month 2016

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• Diversional therapy has been introduced for the patients in the room. TOP 5 was implemented for all patients in the room with input from their carers.

• The ward has introduced a monthly falls map which shows where each fall has occurred in the ward. These falls are then discussed with staff at the ward meetings and strategies are brainstormed to reduce future falls occurring.

• Hourly rounding is used on the ward each patient is asked 5 questionsfor 5“Ps”=Pain- do you have any pain?, Pan- do you need to go to the toilet?, Position- does thepatient need repositioning?, Possessions- Is everything in reach- call bell, glasses?, Plug ins- is everything plugged in?- bed , IV, chair alarm.

• Relatives are encouraged to sit with patients and to notify staff when they are leaving.

The runners up were:Iain Steel - Braeside Hospital for his ‘ Catch it early’ education program

The ‘Catch it early’ program involves education of nurses on the ward by the senior physiotherapist on detecting and reporting gait errors and using the correct descriptors in the clinical notes and verbally to the physiotherapists. Knowing how to read the physiotherapists notes and what specific gait error the patient has, meant that nurses now know what to look for when mobilising the patient and the prompts that may be needed to enable the patient to correct the error. Combined with the observation skills, documenting the error correctly gives more clinically relevant information to the team rather than reporting that patients were ‘wobbly’ or ‘unsteady’. Nurses have made a prompt badge and wear it with their ID to remind them of the key words for gait errors.

Susan Berry – Pambula Hospital Specific falls prevention strategies included: • Intentional rounding• Patient safety huddles• Multidisciplinary rounding• Recruitment of AINs to provide 1 on 1 care for particular

patients requiring increased observation and care.

There was a broad range of April Falls activities that were conducted across the state and this newsletter provides a very brief overview of some of the activities.


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Northern Sydney and Central Coast Local Health Districts

As usual - a bright orange April Falls Day® and Month 2016 was celebrated across NSLHD and CCLHDs!

All our hospitals and many of our community health teams who work with older clients/patients, participated in our annual awareness raising celebration of April Falls Day® and Month to spread the theme of ‘Share the Care – Falls Prevention is Everyone’s Business®’

Our NSLHD and CCLHD Acute/Sub-Acute, and Community Falls Prevention Committees worked very hard to make the day and month a success. The usual orange T-shirts, posters, flyers, pens, lens cleaners, post-it notes and balloons were in evidence everywhere – with staff and patients/clients participating in activities.

• Specific promotions over the month included:

• Stepping On program within the hospitals and in the community.

• Working together with Carers. Across both LHDs we see this as a continued and important opportunity, as they are the ones who are most often managing those with acute and chronic conditions that increase fall risk both in hospital and in the home.

• All NSLHD and CCLHD hospital wards and departments were invited to enter the April Falls Month Competition which rewarded a service who demonstrated cost effective ways to reduce falls, with a cash prize of $1000 to spend on falls prevention equipment or initiatives. The CCLHD winner was Medical 5 Ward at Gosford Hospital, who also won the CEC April Falls Competition and presented at the NSW Falls Prevention Network forum held in May. For NSLHD - South Wing 5 at Manly Hospital won for their FIZZ Board (Falls Information Zone). Judging was tight as there were many deserving entries across both LHDs!

• As an additional incentive to the competition in NSLHD, Carer’s Support has presented each facility with one wheeled recliner chair to be used for the comfort of a Carer on the ward.

• All facilities had falls prevention promotion displays in their foyers using the colourful CEC flyers and poster

• Staff in-service education with invited guest speakers; ‘slapping- on as many falls stickers as you


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can’ competitions; poster display and quiz competitions.

• A few facilities promoted the autumn ‘falling leaves’ theme as well to tie in with the season.

• In CCLHD the R.E.D (Real Education Delivered) Trolley was taken to several wards in Gosford Hospital to deliver information about falls for the month of April and the focus on falls prevention being everyone’s business. Staff on the wards were asked what they felt were the key areas where patients fell and why. Staff correctly identified that patients often fell when going to the toilet and often had no insight into their inability to safely ambulate on their own. The staff were given fact sheets for the ward and for carers regarding information on how to reduce the risk of falls.

• Mental Health and Paediatric wards promoted the month to both staff and patients. Quizzes and healthy snacks were promoted at Macquarie Hospital. Always a great success!

• Community Service Providers were as usual provided with orange resources for their staff and clients during the month of April. Home Nursing Services, Community Health teams and SMHSOP teams conducted education sessions and distributed lots of information to their patients and staff during the month.


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Hospitals/Services that Participated in April Falls Day® Promotions:

POWH and Community Health Service, Royal Hospital for Women, St George Hospital, The Sutherland Hospital, and Calvary Health Care

Summary of Activities outlined in the Site/Service April Falls Day® Reports

SESLHD’s Planning, Population Health and Equity partnered with the Carer Program to celebrate the annual April Falls Day® and promote the message that carer’s are key to keeping those they care for safe in hospital. The District’s weekly newsletter “On the Pulse” featured an article on carers and April Falls Day® and every carer’s noticeboard in the LHD was updated to include April Falls Day® posters. Professionally printed posters and carer support resources were provided to all the sites and services for display and inclusion in the April Falls Day® information stands. Some departments, such as Prince of Wales Emergency Department used the opportunity to launch a carer’s noticeboard, acknowledging that the ED is the first point of contact with the hospital for many patients and carers and highlighting the value of including carers as a member of the health care team.

Royal Hospital for Women

The Macquarie ward staff were out and about in force in their April Falls Day® t-shirts. Jayne Shaw (Clinical Champion for Falls Prevention) designed a falls prevention education board for the main reception area. Multi-disciplinary team engagement was key and nurses, doctors, allied health and administration were all part of the education drive.

Patients and carer were surveyed to gain a better understanding of how patient’s perceive and understand the falls prevention information that is provid-ed. Custom made flyers were placed on the door of every patient room to further engage patients & their families in the messages around falls prevention.

There was also a focus on Delirium screening, with staff taking part in a pop quiz during their shift. The competitive “Great Macquarie Bake Off” brought the day to a close and a sumptuous afternoon tea was enjoyed by the team.

Calvary Health Care

The April Falls Day® activities were launched with an education session on the role of carers in preventing falls. Patients took part in a balloon bash and balance bowls competition followed by afternoon tea with staff and their carers.

The patients were also given a falls activity pack. All nursing educational in-services were focused on falls preven-tion related topics.

An information stand was set up in the foyer where patients, staff and public could take resources on carer support and falls prevention.

South Eastern Sydney Local Health District


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South Eastern Sydney Local Health DistrictSutherland Hospital

This year, the theme ‘Share the Care- Falls prevention is everyone’s business®’ was celebrated and promoted with a stand in the main Atrium displaying brochures, posters, carer’s resources, April Falls Day® merchandise and fall prevention equipment such as alarm mats. Volunteers manned the stand in their orange and green T-shirts. Staff got involved in a jelly bean guessing competition totalling the number of falls for the year and a ‘find a word’ com-petition with key falls prevention words. The Occupational Therapists put together and showed a short DVD about how to get up from a fall for members of the public to see and the Physiotherapy department demonstrated some easy balance and strength exercises.

St George Hospital

Falls champions completed a walk-around activity and went to both inpatient and outpatient areas to spread the message that falls prevention is everyone’s business® ” and to promote the involvement of carers in falls preven-tion and management. Information and facts sheets were handed out to patients, carers and staff.

The Aged Care wards decorated their wards with balloons and held an April Falls Day® afternoon tea.

185 nurses, doctors and allied health staff completed an ‘April Falls Day® Questionnaire’ outlining their responsi-bilities related to falls assessment, prevention and management.

Clinical Practice Changes Implemented over the past 12 months

Annual patient experience survey and high level audit to improve post fall management, discharge planning and partnerships with consumers

• Update of the delirium pathway.

• Development of SESLHD guideline for high risk observation rooms (in draft).

• Trial of the post fall safety huddle on various wards across all sites.

• TSH and SGH have implemented the Productive ward and Person Centred Care program (PEEP) which includes a falls module.

Plans for Improvement over the next 12 months

• SESLHD has launched a patient safety program, with the aim to reduce harm across the LHD by 30%. Expert teams will work with wards to undertake improvement work addressing essentials of safety and key points of care, one of which is preventing falls.

• District to join the ‘Commit to cognitive care’ campaign and work to improve the care of people with cognitive impairment in hospitals.

• SESLHD guideline in draft which standardises mobility terminology so recommendations such as ‘supervision’ and ‘stand by assist’ have the same meaning to staff within and across professions.

• Web-based falls prevention service directory to enable easy access to referral options for both hospital-based staff and community-based staff and health care professionals.


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South Eastern Sydney Local Health DistrictPrince of Wales Community Health

This year April Falls was promoted through Prince of Wales Hospital Intranet site, posters around the

hospital and on the electronic information kiosks in the Barker Street and High Street Foyers.

Client education included:

• ‘April Falls Consumer Stands’ at the High Street and Barker Street entrances to Prince of Wales Hospital.

• Education and information resources reaching approximately 900 clients of Community Health, Healthy Aging Program.

• Education session held at La Perouse Aboriginal Health Centre for Aboriginal Community.

• Staff education was themed around taking an action to reduce the risk of harm from falls.

• In-service sessions were used to deliver the message through quiz, posters, slides and discussion.

April Falls 2016 activities were organised by Prince of Wales Community Health Surestep Committee,

Members of the Post-Acute Care Team, and Megan Swann (Stepping On).


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Western Sydney Local Health DistrictWestern Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) participated in the April Falls Day®/Month, with a range of activities. At the Local Health District level, April Falls Splash Screen Messaging ran across the district leading to April Falls Day®. Balance & Strength Exercises for Seniors Fridge Magnets and other resources were sent out to various facilities. Staff, patients and community members had the opportunity to attend various falls prevention activities in Auburn, Blacktown, Mt Druitt, and Westmead Hospitals and in the local community.

WS Preventing Falls Forum:

Around 70 people attended the WS Preventing Falls Forum held on Thursday, 7th April 2016 at Auburn Hospital Conference Room. WSLHD Falls Prevention Committee organised this forum to bring together clinical staff from all facilities to share information, discuss common issues and gain knowledge and skills to prevent falls. The day included both presentations and group workshops. Presentations included updates at WS and state level, project presentations on safety huddle, diversional therapy and showcase presentations from all the facilities which also covered community and population health.

Staff had the opportunity to participate in group workshops in the afternoon session. The themes were to communicate effectively with our older patients and strategies to maintain staff interest in preventing falls and increasing safety for our patients. Workshop evaluation shows that staff valued the information provided and enjoyed the group discussions and would like to have more workshops.

Flash Mob with Older People:

Shoppers in Blacktown’s Westpoint Shopping Centre got a surprise on 14th April as dozens of seniors showed off their moves in a flash mob, aimed at encouraging older people to stay active. Participants converged outside the shopping centre and Blacktown Library to demonstrate several strength and balance exercises, all choreographed to John Paul Young’s hit ‘Love is in the Air’.

The flash mob was designed to raise awareness of the importance of regular exercises for older people, with participants showcasing exercises like heel raises, half squats, knee lifts and walking sideways.These exercises are part of the Healthy Older People Partnership (HOPP) Project. This project is building the capacity of partner organisations to increase the number of older clients participating in strength and balance exercises.

All the exercises are designed by falls prevention specialists and are ideal to ensure older people have good strength and co-ordination, to avoid falling in their home.

Community Health:

For April Falls Day®, there was a display at Mt Druitt and Blacktown Community Health Centres and promotional material was made available to clients.


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Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals Activities

April 1, 2016 saw another day of celebrations of April Falls Day® at Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals, with the theme of “Share The Care: Falls Prevention is Everyone’s Business® ”.

Blacktown Hospital’s foyer was a buzz, especially at lunchtime, where there was a demonstration of Tai Chi by Ken Poon (Senior Physiotherapist) and strength and balance exercises by Shannon Bielby and Laura Wales (Rehab and Aged care Physiotherapists). Both types of exercises play an important part in falls prevention.

A display table of falls prevention information was manned throughout the day by members of the BMDH Falls Committee and also a display table of equipment helpful in falls prevention manned by members of the Occupational Therapy department.

Fall Prevention information and ‘find a word’ were distributed to the wards of both Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals.

The Rehabilitation Ward at Mt Druitt Hospital, had a fun morning of falls trivia, falls bingo and exercises which was enjoyed by both patients and staff.

Westmead Hospitals Activities

Westmead Cardiology department promoted a falls focus week, ‘Don’t Fall For Me’ from 18th- 22nd April. The objective was empowering and educating nursing staff in patient and consumer engagement on falls identification, prevention and management. Falls awareness focussed on 15min falls huddles on the ward and at patient bedside, House Of Falls interactive simulation, e-Learning and staff roll play as a falls risk patient. Falls awareness is ongoing with Falls Friday ‘Wear Something Orange’ and audit compliance.

Auburn Hospital Activities

Auburn Hospital held their celebration and promotions in the final week of April. CEC falls prevention posters were displayed at the main entrance along with patient information packs, including CEC patient handouts translated into a number of languages. Posters were also displayed across inpatient wards and staff common areas to promote the theme of ‘Falls Prevention is Everyone’s Business®’. In addition, wards got into action by decorating green and wearing green to recognise Prevention of Falls and Harm from Falls.

Western Sydney Local Health District


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Hunter New England Local Health DistrictThis year marked the 5th year of the HNELHD Falls Forums. Each year a forum is held in Tamworth to allow access for staff in the more northern aspects of the District, this was held on 6th April and attended by 102. The other forum this year was in Taree held on the 4th May with 79 clinicians in attendance.

Once again, both forums were considered successful from the point of view of attendance and feedback. The professional discipline of attendees varied but nursing accounted for 74% with 52% of attendees from the acute sector.

The variety of topics (and the willingness for a diverse range of speakers to participate) demonstrate that falls injury prevention is recognised as being multifactorial and is important business (Falls Prevention is Everyone’s Business®).

The theme for April Falls Day®/Month was Share the Care: Falls prevention is everyone’s business®. To determine the extent to which family/carers are involved, attendees at the forum were asked to indicate the level of involvement of family /carers in falls injury prevention at their workplace.

The evaluation revealed that:

• Overall, 77 attendees (61%) indicated they routinely involved family / carers in falls injury prevention strategies and actively sought their input into implementing, developing and evaluating falls prevention strategies.

Comments from attendees demonstrated that information/education on strategies to effectively engage with and support families/carers in falls injury prevention in the home and hospital would be beneficial.

• ‘As a carer for my elder father who has had many falls I found the forum to beneficial. Maybe for those who are not familiar with the available supports at home, more information could be provided in detail. I had no idea until I had to go through this myself’.

• ‘I would like more information on how we can utilise families in the hospital but also at home’

• ‘Best ways of engaging patients and their families in terms of partnering to prevent falls. Especially if the person has a cognitive impairment’

Farewell to Patsy Bourke, Falls Injury Prevention Co-ordinator, HNE LHD.

The Tamworth April Forum was particularly special as it provided an opportunity to acknowledge the work that Patsy has supported and initiated in HNE LHD, over many years. Pasty has been a driving force in raising awareness and intervention in fall and injury prevention and now takes up the next phase of her life enjoying being active and healthy in retirement.

L-R Judy Coates, Mrs Anne Murphy and Patsy Bourke


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Northern Coalfields Community Association (NCCA), Cessnock

Staff, care recipients and visitors have celebrated April Falls, throughout the month of April with the theme “Share the Care” at Northern Coalfields Community Care Association across our three sites; Jacaranda Grove Hostel, Mountain View Hostel and Abernethy Nursing Home.

A great conversation starter were the delightful and eye catching orange outfits worn by staff and care recipients which assisted in promoting the Falls Prevention theme. One hundred staff, care recipients and visitors enjoyed a lovely morning tea whilst participating in an informative presentation by Gouri Godase, NCCCA’s Physiotherapist. Factors that can contribute to falls such as vision, exercise, medication, nutrition and hydration were discussed. A demonstration of hip protectors, the correct handling of walking aids and nonslip socks were also included in Gouri’s presentation.

At the conclusion of the presentation care recipients joined in a Tai Chi session facilitated by Jacaranda Grove Hostel’s Activity Officer, Tracey Crossley.

In association with the morning tea a number of posters were displayed throughout the three Homes providing information on falls prevention strategies and equipment that may lessen the impact of a fall.. These posters were displayed in the Staff rooms, Care Recipient Dining areas and Activity Rooms which ensured that the falls prevention message was highly visible.

A falls prevention education article was published in NCCCA’s April edition of the Grapevine Newsletter which is distributed to all care recipients in a hard copy format, and representatives who have elected to have a copy emailed to them. This article highlighted the importance of falls prevention strategies and associated risk factors.

Hunter New England Local Health District


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Western NSW and Far West Local Health DistrictsOnce more the creative juices were applied by our hard working health service workers across the two LHD’s – resulting in a large range of events spanning the whole month of April (and one even occurring in March).

There were 45 event facilitators who assisted the delivery of events with a focus on fun and information in 44 localities; with multiple events taking place in Dubbo and Orange.

The range of events was quite diverse and some examples included:

• Information sessions and displays @ health services

• Shopping Centre displays

• BBQ’s

• Education sessions for patients and carers

• Morning teas

• An interactive multidisciplinary team staff information afternoon

• AFD combined with staff FluVax clinic

• Use of a risk scenario @ a community fall prevention day

• Development of a fall skit for LHD Facebook site

• Combined promotion with Senior Citizens Health checks

• Tai Chi in the park

• Combined with the Aboriginal Olympic Games @ PCYC with local high school students and families

• Promotion of Red Sox.

Promotional resources were purchased by the Health Promotion team and distributed to most sites, along with printed posters to support displays – as can be seen in a number of the photos attached.

Many thanks to the willing staff who volunteer their time each year to help in promoting awareness of fall prevention in our communities – we couldn’t do it without your enthusiasm and dedication.


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Western NSW and Far West Local Health DistrictsMudgee and Gulgong Health Services.

Summary of Activities outlined in the Site/Service April Falls Day® Reports and Action Plans

Mudgee

• Media marketing through Real FM local radio

• Community Group talks about sharing falls prevention in community/hospital:

- Mudgee CWA 4th March

- Mudgee Hospital Auxillary 9th March

• Pavement stall in Mudgee CBD 1st April.

• Static displays in outpatient and ward areas on 1st April.

• Community Group talk to Mudgee Dementia Carers Support Group May 20th.

Gulgong

• Media marketing through local newspaper, Gulgong Gossip.

• Green and Orange morning tea and education session for Residential Aged Care / Subacute Care and for Community Health “Giraffe” Program on April 1st and the rest of the week.

• Static Display in Gulgong Health Service.


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Southern NSW Local Health DistrictHospitals/Services that Participated in April Falls Day Promotions

Relevant April Falls Day® posters were sent to 61 wards/services across SNSWLHD for display and promotion

Summary of Activities outlined in the Site/Service April Falls Day® Reports and Action Plans

The Population Health team funded Jo Munro (author) Lifestyle Integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) to provide training to 12 health professionals on 1st April at Queanbeyan.

Four LiFE programs commenced in the LHD in April with an additional 13 programs to follow. An innovative partnership with NSW Home Care Services saw 105 participants recruited to the LiFE programs from 11 small communities. This program is being implemented with internal allied health and nursing staff, the Primary Health Network and private providers.

Sixty one volunteers attended Tai Chi for Arthritis training in Batemans Bay on 29 April – 1st May 2016. In addition to the 35 existing classes being offered each week, it is anticipated that an additional 15 classes will commence. Currently, more than 500 people participate in weekly Tai Chi classes across 10 Local Government areas in SNSWLHD.


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Southern NSW Local Health DistrictClinical Practice Changes Implemented over the past 12 months

The LHD has implemented:

• Guideline: Post Fall or near miss Safety Huddle

• Guideline: Non Slip Socks as a fall prevention strategy

• Procedure: Falls Prevention and Injury Management in outpatient cancer treatment centres

• Procedure: Falls Prevention and Injury Management for patients attending renal dialysis units and community renal outreach services.

• Procedure: Falls Prevention and Injury Management for children admitted to acute care facilities.

Pambula Hospital have implemented Post Fall Safety Huddles, use of Non slip socks and Intentional Hourly Rounding following a serious incident review in 2015. The falls data at Pambula has shown a significant reduction in reported incidents since the introduction of these processes. This initiative was also a runner up in the CEC April Falls Competition and presented at the NSW Falls Prevention Network forum in May.

All SNSWLHD computer screens in the LHD had an April Falls message displayed throughout the month.

All sites/wards undertook observational falls audits using the new QARS system in April.

Plans for Improvement over the next 12 months –

• Implementation of Procedure: Falls Prevention and Injury Management in SNSWLHD maternity services

• Implementation of CHOPS program in inpatient mental health units.


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There were a range of activities for April Falls Day®/Month in Murrumbidgee LHD with some activities highlighted in an article in the Murrumbidgee Matters the LHD newsletter. Activities included the circulation of a media release, printed resources (developed by CEC) sent to all hospitals and community health centres, promoting AFM through the physical activity leader’s network. A videoconference session was held as part of staff education with 11 facilities joining the video-link session and Lorraine Lovitt and Anne Axam from CEC delivering a presentation on how to engage patients and/or carers effectively, The AFM theme was used as background screen for all computers across the LHD.

Hillston Multipurpose Service (MPS) was one of many facilities across MLHD to get behind April Falls Day® on 1 April to raise awareness of falls prevention.

Tumbarumba MPS staff were congratulated for achieving zero falls in March 2016 for the first time! This compares to 12 falls in March 2015 and an annual peak of 30 falls in April 2015. Well done to all staff on this tremendous improvement. Pictured right are Registered Nurses Anne Battersby and Callum Anderson on April Falls Day®.

Henty Health Service

Henty is a Town in Southwestern New South Wales, close to the boundaries of South West Slopes and the Riverina districts, almost midway between the regional cities of Albury and Wagga Wagga.

Henty Health Service is a Multipurpose service (MPS) with a large emphasis on acute, emergency and aged care. There is one doctor who is available for emergency, acute and aged care treatment.

Unfortunately with funding cuts to our services we no longer have an onsite physiotherapist, dietitian, occupational therapist and diversional therapist , although we do and will continue to refer our aged residents to these professionals when required.

Although there isn’t an onsite podiatrist, enquiries were made to have the community visiting podiatrist visit our aged residents in our facility for a reasonable price.

Future plans for our community are to have an open forum through either the Senior Citizens meeting, Probus meeting, Day Care and the “Men’s Shed”to share information on; how to remain on your feet, free health assessments for over 75, as well as the importance of good diet, exercise, rest and medication management and communication with family and health professionals.

Murrumbidgee Local Health District


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Mid North Coast Local Health DistrictCongratulations and a job well done to all the MNCLHD staff who organised and participated in the April Falls Day® activities across the district during the month of April.

Below are photos and descriptions of the activities that staff and patients were involved in:

Kempsey District Hospital

The Inpatient Unit had a “Sale of the Century” Quiz with prizes and an afternoon tea. This was followed by a Falls Simulation Activity which included a room full of fall hazards with staff needing to recognize the dangers in the room. There was also a ward display and staff wore the green falls prevention t-shirts.

Wauchope District Memorial Hospital

Wauchope held a staff morning tea with a big green cake and staff education in the afternoon. Participants from the weekly out-patient falls class also took part in a morning tea and a chat reinforcing some falls facts/figures and the importance of regular strength and balance training.


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Mid North Coast Local Health DistrictPort Macquarie Community Health

There was a very informative staff display and education provided to community staff by Kelly Meacham (Physiotherapist).

Coffs Harbour Health Campus

The Medical Unit had an afternoon tea to raise awareness and also set up an information wall for Falls Prevention promotion.

The Acute Mental Health ward made an April Falls poster in partnership with their mental health consumers and their fantastic Occupational Therapist Jacki. The leaves are symbolic of the season falls and the dynamic/static risk factors for a fall. Llyris Wood (CNS) and Allyson Wilson (CNE) delivered a consumer education session on Falls Prevention that went really well - it was interactive and informative and also full of laughs. They also had the Health promotion officer for the ‘Stepping On’ program booked in during April, and Llyris Wood delivered two in-service education sessions to staff.

Dorrigo

There was a morning tea followed by Lauren an OT giving a talk on falls prevention to staff, patients, residents and family members on falls hazards and equipment, and Debra a Physiotherapist spoke about fitness, the impact of falls and provided balance exercises and gave a demo of how to safely get up from a fall.


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Northern NSW Local Health DistrictMost Community Health, Hospitals and MPS sites participated in April Falls Promotion activities. This included eye catching noticeboards and information stands for the public, extra educational sessions for staff, and extra time on the wards talking with patients and carers about falls prevention. Nurse Educators at Lismore Base Hospital, had greater success than last year in attracting people’s attention in the LBH foyer. Brief interventions included 52 general staff, 24 medical staff & 91 members of the public as they approached people in the foyer with the message “Don’t be an April Fall!”.

• This year focused primarily around improving screening for inpatients and the completion of the Falls Risk Assessment and Action Plan (FRAMP) (especially sites with low completion rates in 2015 audit).

• Falls Prevention governance was improved with the re-establishment of the LHD Falls Prevention and Management Committee and other site specific committees.

• The LHD Falls Prevention Policy was updated and the newly written LHD Falls Screening, Assessment, Prevention and Management Procedures for Inpatient, Community Health and Aged Care settings are close to being finalised.

• There was also emphasis this year on greater numbers of staff completing HETI Falls Prevention modules.

The coming year will focus on:

• Ensuring appropriate screening practises and falls risk management strategies remain integrated into inpatient practise with the change to EMR2.

• Community Health FROP- Com screening and procedures to be finalised, promoted and integrated into practise, as well as audited.

• Improving communication processes and resources with carers, families and clients/inpatients.

• Falls Prevention Coordinator: Greater Falls Prevention promotion amongst the general community and community service workers/volunteers, development of local Falls Health Pathway for GP’s, education /assistance to Residential Care Services regarding programs and practises.


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Northern NSW Local Health DistrictMacLean Hospital

Another great day was had at Maclean this April Falls Day®.

Staff enjoyed morning tea together and had a laugh snapping some photos. As the theme was Share the care, a number of posters were displayed, and a notice board was at the front entrance in order to get our community thinking about falls prevention.

Jack Wallace and Ann Simpson walked through the wards talking to patients and their carers about falls and falls prevention. The TOP 5 program was introduced last April Falls Day ® (2015), one of our focuses was again on this program. We often find carers embrace this program and enjoy being involved. On our walk around, we also handed out the falls packs that we designed in 2015. This pack includes the ‘Staying active and on your feet’ booklet, a falls prevention in hospital flyer, and information on the TOP 5 program. All this information was from the CEC.

Jack Wallace, Manual Handling and Falls Coordinator ran some staff education that focused on when and how we assess our patients falls risk status, and how we document this in the patients’ medical record.

One of our main focuses for the upcoming year will be documentation, and following our post falls procedures. Our falls education package for 2016 discusses all falls related forms that are used throughout the hospital. In this presentation, feedback is provided on any relevant information discussed at the LHD falls meetings. This is important as it keeps staff up to date with current trends and information.

We are also in the process of finalising our falls equipment register. This register has an auditing component, which ensures our equipment is being monitored on a regular basis.

There have been many exciting changes throughout the health service in the past few years, working towards safer outcomes for our community.


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In April 2016, nine hospitals and community services from across the District participated in the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) state-wide April Falls Day® Program.

The importance of involving carers and patients in falls prevention was highlighted in this year’s April Falls Day® with the theme - Share the Care: Falls Prevention is everyone’s business®. Carers can let health workers know a lot of important information about their loved ones, which includes: recent slips, trips or falls, changes in memory or thinking at home or in hospital, personal habits and history of help support and settle, changes in medications, personal aids used (glasses, hearing aids, walking sticks), need for assistance with toilet, shower or self-care.

This year’s theme adds and compliments other key programs that are being undertaken across the District. Some examples include:

• TOP 5: Carer’s tips for effective communication to promote personalized care, Partnering with Patients (Clinical Excellence Commission).

• Introduction of Patient/carer education sessions for inpatients/outpatients/community with a range of different topics presented by the multidisciplinary team, weekly meetings.

• Introduction of patient hourly rounding by clinicians. In one ward hourly rounding was introduced primarily for patients at risk of falls.

• Introduction of Falls Pathway and introduction of FROP Com Falls Screen in Primary Health Nursing.

Key outcomes experienced over the past 12 months include:

• Reduction in falls in some wards.

• Decreased length of stay in some wards.

• Increase in the screening of consumers for falls in community settings.

• Improved dissemination of information between clinicians, consumers, GP’s and allied health professionals in community settings.

The April Falls Day® Promotion was coordinated through the Clinical Governance Unit and facilitated at the site and service level by the ISLHD District Falls Committee representatives. The ISLHD April Falls Day® promotion was also published in the South Coast Register on the 1st April.

Common activities/themes conducted across sites/services included; Foyer Displays, Staff and Patient/Client Education and Information sessions, green themes including clothes and food, Staff Quizzes, Stalls and special luncheons and morning teas. In addition, some areas had an April Falls Day® Slogan Competition, Physiotherapy Gym balance challenge. Feedback from the sites and services indicated that a lot of enthusiasm and enjoyment was had by staff and patients/visitors, with great opportunities created in promoting Falls Prevention.

The following Summary of Activities provides a snapshot of the Site/Service April Falls Day® Promotional activities that occurred on the 1st April 2016.

Summary of Activities

All nine hospitals and the Ambulatory and Primary Health Care participated in the April Falls Day® Promotion, and provided formal April Falls Day® Reports and Action Plans.

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District


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Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health DistrictNorthern Illawarra Hospital Group

Wollongong Hospital

Whole of Hospital Falls Prevention Display 31/3/16 to 8/4/16: The collective wards and units at Wollongong Hospital designed and developed a display in the Loftus Street foyer, capturing the range of falls prevention initiatives which have been implemented to prevent, reduce or manage falls at Wollongong Hospital.

April Falls Prevention Market Place was set up in the staff canteen. Approximately 50 staff and students visited the stalls. There were ward representatives discussing and displaying local initiatives to reduce falls including:

• TOP 5 (C7 East – Aged Care / Medical Assessment Unit)

• CHOPs program and Sunflower (A4 Surgical)

• Sunflower and intentional Rounding (B4 East Surgical)

• Neurology Ward Falls Prevention Quality project (C4 West)

Other activities included:

• Nursing Grand Rounds presentation on Falls Prevention held on 18/4/2016

• Interpreter services discussing the benefits of using the Interpreter service in completing ADRA/falls assessment.

• Pharmacy activity identifying medications which may affect falls, i.e. diuretics and hypotensive medications.

• Occupational Therapy falls prevention equipment and shoes.

• B4 West conducted education on Falls Prevention and undertook a brainstorming exercise on what they have been doing well on the ward to prevent and manage falls. The ward was decorated in green, a morning tea was held and posters were displayed in the ward on valuing the input of families. CEC fact sheets were printed and were available to patients and families.

Prize was awarded to B4 East for greatest reduction in falls over the last 12 months. A4 was highly commended for coming a close second. They have been engaged in the Confused Hospitalised Older Person (CHOPs) pilot program.

A Guessing Competition was held in the canteen: the number of falls in 2015. The winner was a third year student from Wollongong University.


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Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health DistrictBulli Hospital

• In-service ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’ with falls questions game.

• Staff ‘Spot the falls hazard’ competition to be completed at the end of April 2016.

• Two hospital displays with information brochures.

• Staff wearing Falls Prevention T-shirts (green).

• Loot bags for staff including falls prevention merchandise e.g. post-it notes with falls message.

Coledale Hospital

Coledale Hospital celebrated April Falls Week from Mon 4/4/16 – Fri 8/4/16.

• For patients, carers, visitors and staff, activities included:

• Posters, balloon’s displayed in the foyer and on the ward to promote April Falls Day®: Share the Care.

• Foyer display with a Falls Guessing competition to identify the hazards in the display.

• Handouts available in the foyer and around the hospital on falls prevention and April Falls Day®: Share the Care.

• The main event of the week was a ‘Falls Afternoon Tea’ held for the patients on the Friday in the patient dining room by the Occupational Therapy/Diversional Therapy/Nursing team to decorate cupcakes that were purchased by the site for the afternoon tea. The afternoon tea provided patients with a cup of tea and chocolates and awarded prizes to patients and staff for the falls guessing competition onsite.

• A group education session for patients and carers was held on Thursday 7th April on medication management to reduce falls.

Southern Illawarra Hospital group

Shellharbour and Kiama Hospitals

• Ward based presentations.

• Exciting and interesting green food for staff.

• Foyer presentation.

• Ladies auxiliary BBQ and market stalls.

Port Kembla Hospital

• Ward based presentations.

• Exciting and interesting green food for staff.

• Foyer presentation.

• Ladies auxiliary BBQ and market stalls.


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Shoalhaven Hospital Group

Shoalhaven Hospital

Quiz for staff

A “single question on the spot” quiz was developed and run in

all clinical areas

Foyer display and interactive discussion for consumer information

A foyer table was erected in the main foyer of the hospital.

Poster displays

CEC posters were colour printed on A3 for display throughout the hospital corridors promoting falls prevention practices to staff, patients and carers.

Slogan Competition & ward decoration

Wards & departments were encouraged to use this year’s slogan “Share the care: Falls Prevention is Everyone’s Business®” to create their own ward based promotion.

Themed morning teas and bright clothes

Staff members were encouraged to wear items of orange and green, and to hold their own morning tea activities embracing the orange and green colour theme.

Physiotherapy Gym balance challenge

Staff were encouraged to attend the physiotherapy gym to take on the “balance challenge” this was a fun activity for all and highlighted the need for balance in preventing a fall.

Volunteer Involvement

The rehabilitation ward volunteers also took up the challenge of April Falls Day® encouraging patients to undertake activities focused on how they could reduce the risk of falling.

David Berry Hospital

Ward decorations

Displays and decorations promoting “falls prevention is everyone’s business” were created in both rehabilitation and palliative care wards.

Engagement of patients and families

Multiple activities were undertaken with patients and their families to raise awareness of the responsibility of individuals and families in helping to prevent falls.

Quizzes and crosswords

A variety of quizzes were conducted throughout the day encouraging a falls prevention focus to the day.

Afternoon teas

Green themed afternoon teas gave opportunity for staff to celebrate falls prevention together with confectionery and cake the setting for our verbal falls pop quiz.

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District


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Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health DistrictMilton /Ulladulla Hospital

Community and Patient Engagement

Static displays were erected in multiple community centres, the local library and leisure centre, as well the local chemist and GP rooms. MUH staff also provided informative talks to four local community groups with the focus of “Staying Active and on your Feet”.

Obstacle Course and Falls Quiz

Staff were encouraged to complete the ‘obstacle course’ highlighting the importance of a clutter free environment for those at risk of falls. Poor vision glasses were provided to add an additional element to the risk. A falls quiz also encouraged staff to consider the risks of falls and the role that everyone plays in prevention.

Morning & Afternoon teas, barbeque lunch and Coloured

Clothing

A green theme filled tables for morning & afternoon teas, with staff encouraged to wear the colour green. A barbeque lunch was also provided to staff.

Static displays and Education

A static display was created in the hospital foyer for all visitor to the hospital along with decorations and posters throughout the hospital promoting the theme of falls.

Ambulatory and Primary Health Care

Primary Health Nurses

• Waiting rooms at every CHC were decorated with large posters, falls prevention brochures and balloons.

• Clients visiting centres on the day were engaged by staff about Falls Prevention.

• Falls pamphlets were available and distributed to clients >65; ATSI Clients >50 including a one page falls prevention checklist.

• Some pamphlets in languages other than English were available at each centre for display and for clients to take home.

• All staff were reminded to be prepared for April Falls Day® at Nurses Meetings.

• Primary Health Nursing Staff were given information about Falls in the monthly PHN newsletter.


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Other OrganisationsGuide Dogs NSW/ACT

With Australia’s ageing population expected to face health challenges that could impact their independence, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT celebrated April Falls Day® with a falls prevention class at Chatswood Library.

The April Falls class was a follow up session for Guide Dogs clients with vision impairment who graduated from a previous falls prevention program called ‘Stride Out Safe & Steady’. It allowed the participants to share their experiences with others, particularly which safety tips and exercises they have found useful in their daily lives.

“One safety tip that I’ve put into practice is taking my time when getting out of bed. This has helped me orient myself and get my balance so I don’t fall over when I get up,” one participant said.

The April Falls class also gave Guide Dogs Orientation and Mobility Specialists the opportunity to conduct falls risk assessments on the participants.

“It’s important for clients to know their limits,” said Orientation and Mobility Specialist Ying-Wah Wan, who organised the class.

The April Falls class is also a reminder that the ‘Stride Out Safe & Steady’ program for 2016 commenced on 8 April in Riverwood. This free program comprises of multiple practical and inspirational advice sessions on how to reduce the risks of falls through a combination of specifically tailored exercises.

“The Stride Out Safe & Steady program aims to enable seniors having trouble getting around safely due to vision loss to reduce the risk of falls and fall injury by re-building their mobility safety and confidence. This will allow them to maintain their independence in doing day-to-day activities,” said Ying-Wah Wan.

Southern Cross Care Merrylands

John Woodward Apartments celebrated April Falls Day® for the third year in row.

There was a big display stand with information to increase falls prevention awareness, publications were also made available, and there were green and orange snacks and lollies.


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Joining the NetworkTo join the NSW Falls Prevention Network listserv, send an email to:

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If you have any problems, contact Esther Vance at [email protected].

Share your news and information/ideasDo you have any news on Falls Prevention you want to share with others on the network, or do you want to report on a project that is happening in your area.

Please email Esther with your information. We also welcome suggestions for articles and information you would like to see in this newsletter.

Send your information to: [email protected]

The Network ListservIt is great to see the increased activity on the listserv and we want to continue to promote this. To send an item to the listserv where all members of the network can see it, send an email to:

[email protected]

You need to be a subscriber to the listserv to send an email that will be distributed to all members on the listserv. Remember to put a short description in the subject line.

Recently some posts to the listserv have bounced due to email address changes, you need to re-subscribe with your new e-mail address and unsubscribe from your old address following the Join the Network instructions as shown on this page.

NSW Falls Prevention Network BackgroundThe NSW Falls Prevention Network was established in 1993. The role of this network has grown since its inception and now includes:

• Meetings for discussion of falls related issues;• Dissemination of research findings both local and

international;• Sharing resources developed and exploration

of opportunities to combine resources in joint initiatives;

• Encouragement of collaborative projects and research;

• To act as a group to influence policy;• To liaise with NSW Ministry of Health to provide

information on current State/Commonwealth issues in relation to falls and

• Maintenance of resources pertinent to the field.

The main purpose of the network is to share knowledge, expertise and resources on falls prevention for older people.

The NSW Falls Prevention Network activities are part of the implementation of the NSW Falls Prevention Policy funded by the NSW Ministry of Health.

“Falls Prevention is everyone’s business®”

Falls Network Informationfallsnetwork.neura.edu.au

For more information scan with your smartphone

Documents

Volume 11 April Falls Issue Newsletter of the NSW Falls ...fallsnetwork.neura.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/April-Falls... · nurses’ station and in an area of high visibility