U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
Skip to main content

Fall Prevention System

Last updated

Share Print

In 2015 the cost of fatal and non-fatal falls in the US was approximately $50 billion – and since falls disproportionally impact older adults, it is a particularly important issue for VA to address.

As a result, we have been developing innovative ways to prevent falls and their devastating consequences. The National Center for Collaborative Healthcare Innovation (NCCHI) is collaborating with a medical company on an exciting project that utilizes their smart integrated sock sensor system to alert nurses when a fall-risk patient attempts to get out of bed.

This innovation is emerging and worth watching as it is being assessed in early implementations. See more emerging innovations.

Adoptions:

4 successful, 4 in-progress

Partners:

Diffusion of Excellence, VHA Innovators Network

Email

Metrics

  • There were 20.7 falls per 1000 ward days of care (WDOC) for those not using the SmartSocks compared to 9.2 falls per 1000 WDOC for patients using the SmartSocks. This represents a reduction of falls by more than half.

Diffusion tracker

Does not include Clinical Resource Hubs (CRH)

Statuses

There are no unsuccessful adoptions for this innovation.

Multimedia

Images

Above:

Plot of the negative binomial (NB) regression model with fitted lines of the association between the ward hours of care and expected fall count, when wearing the SmartSock (teal) and not wearing the SmartSock (red). The accompanying shaded area represents the confidence intervals for each group.

Above:

Smart badge with screen display identifying room number location of the alert.

Above:

The PuP ® SmartSock is viewed from below (a) and from the side (b). From below, the three integrated pressure sensors are identified as black squares, the raised nonskid treads are tan, and the Inertial Measurement Unit is attached to the SmartSock above the lateral aspect of the ankle (a).