New tool to aid with prevention of falls

WVU Medicine will launch the Johns Hopkins Fall Risk Assessment Tool (JHFRAT), a new resource to help with patient fall awareness and prevention, on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

According to WVU Medicine officials, house-wide patient falls have increased over the past couple of years. In 2015, there were 524 falls, including eight major falls; in  2016 there were 563 falls, including 14 major falls.

JHFRAT is a screening tool that assigns patients to three fall risk categories: low, moderate, and high. Moderate risk patients will be given yellow socks and an ID band to wear; high risk patients will wear purple socks and an ID band.

Educational flyers have been sent out to all nursing units and support units for awareness and education. A CBL was assigned to appropriate providers as of July 14. The deadline to complete the CBL is July 31.