Accidental Falls in a Rehabilitation Setting

Accidental falls among patients at a rehabilitation center were studied to provide data for ongoing risk management. Three series of variables were analyzed from the epidemiologic perspective. Environmental variables most frequently associated with accidental falls were week of hospitalization, day of week, activity levels, and site and equipment. Host factors of age and sex were also considered. Age and diagnosis (CVAs) were critical variables in comparing patients who fell with those who did not. Definitive directions have now emerged for development of a targeted preventive program.