Cost of Inpatient Falls and Cost-Benefit Analysis of Implementation of an Evidence-Based Fall Prevention Program

Key Points Question What are the costs of inpatient falls and cost benefits associated with the Fall TIPS (Tailoring Interventions for Patient Safety) Program? Findings In this economic evaluation using a large cohort (900 635 patients; 7858 noninjurious falls; 2317 injurious falls), the average total cost of a fall was $62 521 ($35 365 direct costs), and injury was not significantly associated with increased costs. The Fall TIPS Program was associated with $22 million in savings at study sites across the 5-year study period. Meaning The findings of this study indicate that implementation of cost-effective, evidence-based safety programs was associated with lower cost and care burdens associated with inpatient falls and are a step toward safer, more affordable patient care.