Preventing falls and eliminating injury at Ascension Health.

Background: For Ascension Health's Healthcare That Is Safe strategy, eight hospitals served as alpha sites in the program to prevent falls and eliminate falls with injury.

Methods: The alpha sites implemented four key strategies: (1) assessment and re-assessment of patient risk factors for falls, (2) visual identification of patients at high risk, (3) communication of patient fall risk status, and (4) education of patients, families, and staff about fall prevention.

Results: The recommendations of the alpha initiative spread rapidly throughout Ascension Health and preceded measurement of the fall ratio.