How Stryker’s technology elevates patient safety
Patient safety is a top priority in healthcare, and one of the biggest challenges hospitals face is preventing falls. These accidents can lead to longer hospital stays and even serious injury.1 While traditional methods—like keeping a close eye on patients and encouraging safe movement—are still crucial, there’s more to be done.
That's where Stryker comes in, offering smart, connected solutions that can help support fall prevention protocols and make life a little easier for healthcare teams.
The role of technology in helping prevent patient falls
Falls in hospitals happen for all sorts of reasons—patients might be unsteady from medication, or maybe the environment isn't set up optimally. Thankfully, technology is here to lend a hand.
Stryker’s fall prevention solutions are designed to take some of the pressure off healthcare teams by using our smart, connected innovations. In conjunction with a hospital’s fall prevention protocols, these tools are designed to not only help keep patients safe but also make the daily routines of healthcare providers a bit smoother.2 By connecting with the hospital’s existing systems, our solutions make it easier to spot potential fall risks and take action before injury happens.
A better way to keep patients safe
At the heart of Stryker’s fall prevention suite of products are ProCuity and Prime Connect—our smart bed and stretcher that are designed to do more than just keep patients comfortable. Through Stryker’s Dynamic Clinical Workflow, they connect wirelessly to the hospital’s systems, sending near real-time updates to staff when something needs attention. This helps nurses keep track of what’s going on without constantly feeling overwhelmed by alarms.3,4
In fact, when hospitals use Stryker connected solutions along with good staff training and solid leadership, the results can be impressive. One hospital saw a 64.8% drop in bed-related falls after they started using Stryker’s connected beds. Plus, these solutions help lighten the load for nurses, allowing them to focus on the things that matter most—like bedside patient care.2
But Stryker’s technology doesn’t just stop at helping to support fall prevention protocols. These smart beds and stretchers are part of a bigger picture—a safety-first approach that touches every part of a hospital’s care routine. By tying fall prevention into everyday tasks like patient check-ins and medication rounds, our technology can help keep staff informed without unnecessarily adding to their cognitive load.
Real results: a success story in patient safety
Let’s take a look at how this technology works in action. In one hospital’s post-surgical unit, Stryker’s iBed technology became a key player in their fall prevention efforts. The team made sure everyone was trained and ready to use the technology properly—nurses, patient care technicians and even unit secretaries all got involved.
The result? Over 65 days with zero patient falls, and an overall 80% reduction in falls across the unit. This success didn’t just come from the new technology, though—it was the combination of technology, protocols, training, teamwork and solid leadership that made the difference.5
Looking ahead: building a safer future together
With Stryker’s smart, connected solutions—like ProCuity, Prime Connect, Dynamic Clinical Workflow, and more—hospitals are empowered to deliver quality patient care. These technologies equip staff with timely, actionable insights, enabling them to respond swiftly and confidently to help reduce the risk of patient falls.
References:
1. Dykes PC, Burns Z, Adelman J, et al. Evaluation of a Patient-Centered Fall-Prevention Tool Kit to Reduce Falls and Injuries: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(11):e2025889. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.25889. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
2. Rohac, Delane, et al. “Outcomes Story: Targeted Fall Prevention Interventions and Wireless Technology Results in Successful Quality Improvement Intervention.” https://www.stryker.com/elmhurst. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
3. Fernandes, Chrystinne, et al. “Detecting False Alarms by Analyzing Alarm-Context Information: Algorithm Development and Validation.” JMIR Med Inform. Volume 8(5), 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
4. Vocera Engage solution brief. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
5. Harris, Karen. “Outcomes Story: Quality Improvement Initiative Incorporates i-Bed Technology into Fall Prevention Bundle of Care.” https://www.stryker.com/content/dam/stryker/acute-care/case-studies/UAB%20No%20Falls%20Challenge%20Outcome%20Story%20S3%20iBed.pdf. Retrieved August 16, 2024.