Project Overview

Patient falls from beds to the floor are a problem at every hospital. Frequent monitoring of patients and the use of low beds mitigates but does not solve the problem of falls.

A potential path to decrease falls would be the use of a monitor that sounded an alarm if the patient changed position in certain ways. I envision using solid state position/acceleration monitors but we can discuss the use of Doppler or video monitoring.

For example, most patients in bed have their thighs flat or perhaps raised with the knees bent. If the patient starts to get out of bed his/her thighs will begin to point towards the floor (knees lower than the hips). If this change in position can be detected, an alarm condition could sound.

Most patients in bed have their trunks flat or raised up to perhaps 45 degrees. Before getting out of bed their trunks are generally near vertical. Patients who are not getting out of bed may sit up completely so a trunk position monitor alone will not have adequate specificity for a possible fall.

The difference between this proposal and the literature is we want to predict falls by several seconds. This would give a nurse a chance to come to the room before the fall occurs. Most other research has detected falls or has characterized falls.

It is the client's hope that a workable specific and sensitive monitoring system can be developed using two or perhaps more position sensors.

The goal would be to develop a light, easily applied system that is sensitive and specific for near fall positioning. Also, the system must be comfortable and safe for the patient.

Linda Stevens (alternate contact) is a nursing leader responsible for nursing safety at UW Hospital. Her input to our process will be critical.

Team Picture

Contact Information

Team Members

• Allison Berman - Team Leader
• Katherine Swift - Communicator & BPAG
• Curtis Weber - BSAC
• Anna Zebzda - BWIG

Advisor and Client

• Dr. Jeremy Rogers - Advisor
• Dr. Chris Green - Client
• Linda Stevens - Alternate Contact

Related Projects

• Spring 2014: Non-invasive monitoring of patient position
• Fall 2013: Non-invasive monitoring of patient position