NAHQ CPHQ Practice Exam

The following information about patient falls is obtained from a facility with units that have a similar average daily census: Unit A: 6%, Unit B: 4%, Unit C: 9%, Unit D: 8%. Which of the following additional information is most important to evaluate the cause of the falls?

1. Compliance with fall protocol

2. Medication education

3. Number of falls

4. Time of day

The correct answer is: Compliance with fall protocol

This additional information is most important to evaluate the cause of falls because it examines whether or not the facility is following its established protocols for preventing falls. Without knowing the level of compliance with fall protocols, it is impossible to accurately assess the effectiveness of those protocols in reducing falls. B, C, and D may also provide some useful information, but they do not directly address the effectiveness of the facility's fall prevention protocols. Knowing the level of medication education or the number of falls does not necessarily reveal any issues with the facility's protocols. Similarly, knowing the time of day of falls may provide some insights, but it does not directly assess the effectiveness of the protocols themselves.