Outcomes

Outcomes
• Patient Infection Rates
• Patient Fall Rate
• Patient Pressure Ulcers
• Patient Satisfaction
• Patient-Staff Ratios
• Employee Injury Rate
• Employee Satisfaction
• Community Benefits

Keeping patients safe

At RML, our fiscal year 2012 rate for patient falls without injuries was significantly lower than the national rate.

Our Vision

To be the best long-term acute care hospital in the country. This vision will be defined by:

• Clinical outcomes;
• Patient satisfaction;
• Efficiency;
• Research; and
• Teaching and education.

Incidence of Patient Falls

Our medically complex patient population is at high risk for falling during hospitalization due to such contributing factors as age; disorientation and dementia; unfamiliarity of surroundings; weakness and frailty; cumbersome lines, tubes and dressings; specialty beds and bed surfaces; and, often, mind- and balance-altering medications.

At RML Specialty Hospital, we work diligently to keep our patients safe. To protect patients against falling, we employ rigorous, evidence-based fall-prevention strategies that target the highest risk areas. Our interventions include thorough assessment of patient risks, frequent patient observation and re-orientation, use of protective equipment, bed and chair exit alarms, beds in low position and placement of call lights within patient reach.

We compare our outcomes data to the National Association of Long Term Hospitals (NALTH), an advocacy, education and research organization that represents long-term acute care hospitals. Fall rates are calculated using the following formula:

Number of Patient Falls	x 1,000 = Fall Rate per 1,000 Patient Days
Number of Patient Days

 

Lower rates mean fewer falls. As the chart below shows, the calendar 2011 NALTH rate for falls without injuries at comparable long term acute hospitals was 2.8. At RML, our fiscal year 2012 rate for patient falls without injuries was 1.5, well below our comparison group.