Epidemiologyandcost of in-hospital falls: Monitoring 22 consecutivemonthsat the "policlinico" hospital of bari.a pilot study in Italy

The authors present the results of a retrospective study on falls performed at "Policlinico" Hospital of Bari, Italy, in the period 1st March 2011-31st December 2012. A systematic approach was performed to estimate the average hospital cost and length of stay (LOS) associated with injurious falls in our hospital. Particularly, a surveillance system based on the distribution and filing of "Fall of the Patient" record cards has long been in place. The study revealed 175 falls, accounting for the 0.1 % of the admissions to the Policlinico Hospital in the examined period, which had both human and financial costs, the latter related to extra-treatment (medical investigations-both instrumental and clinical- A nd therapies), increased lengths of stay, complaints and, in some cases, litigations. All these aspects produced an outlay of 159.108,53 (up to 31st) December 2013). Accordingly, even though it is unrealistic to consider all falls to be preventable, the authors hypothesize that a system-based fall-prevention program targeting high-risk situations would result in fewer falls. As the model actually in use in Bari is certainly exportable to other national entities, Hospital General Directions should have a leading role in creating effective programs of monitoring and prevention, consequently reducing hospital costs.