Reconfiguring the Patient Room to Increase Patient Stability

Despite decades of research into patient falls, falls and the injuries incurred continue to be a serious threat to patient safety. Fall rates continue to be unacceptably high. The purpose of this project is to increase the safety of a hospital room for patient mobility, using innovative simulation strategies and patient-centric design.

An innovative simulation environment will be built to enable rapid assessment of room layout and fixture positioning and patient stability. The results from multiple simulations will be used to fabricate a prototype room layout that will be tested by patients with Parkinson disease and reviewed and updated with input from other relevant stakeholders. A final room prototype will be built and tested. Results will be translated and shared with all stakeholders and disseminated for implementation.

Inclusion criteria

• Frail elderly, impaired gait

Exclusion criteria

• Use of walking aid