To prevent falls, a Colorado hospital is replacing frequent bed alarms with an AI-enabled system that analyzes EHR data for risk indicators.
Historically, UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central classified a majority of patients as high fall risks, administering bed alarms as a precaution.
"Putting all patients on alarms became a bit much as far as trying to respond to them all. It was also [overly] restrictive for some patients," Melanie Engler, BSN, clinical nurse manager at Memorial Central, said in a statement. "If everybody is a fall risk, nobody is a fall risk."
On Dec. 6, the Colorado Springs-based hospital implemented the risk of injury system, which scours EHR data for indicators such as confusion, previous falls, impulsivity and certain medications. The AI-powered platform offers clinicians suggestions to help guide decision-making in implementing precautionary measures.
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