From Fall Prevention to Post Event Follow Up: Integrated Response System Strengthens Patient Safety Environment

“We are committed to ensuring that hospitalized patients can recover safely and comfortably under the attentive protection of our medical staff.”

▲The Fall Response Team (FRT) at Asan Medical Center provides fall recurrence prevention education to patients who have experienced a fall.

Falls accounted for 32.6 percent of all patient safety incidents reported at medical institutions nationwide in 2024, underscoring the need for vigilance as they can happen to anyone. In hospitalized patients, falls can lead to serious injuries such as fractures or intracranial hemorrhage, significantly affecting recovery, making thorough prevention and systematic management essential.

Asan Medical Center recently announced that it began full scale operation of its Fall Response Team (FRT) in November, a 24-hour service established to prevent and professionally manage falls that may occur among hospitalized patients.

The new response system is expected to enhance the safety and well-being of hospitalized patients by preventing fall risks in advance and minimizing additional injury through immediate on site intervention and thorough post event management when an incident occurs.

The FRT is composed of specialized nurses from three units: Early Medical Emergency Team, which is dispatched immediately when a fall occurs among hospitalized patients; the Neurological Alert Team (NAT), which manages patients with head trauma or delirium; and the Medical Emergency Team (MET), which responds to all other patients.

The service operates 24 hours a day for hospitalized adults aged 16 and older in general wards, and in addition to responding to fall incidents, the team also provides immediate intervention for patients with aggressive delirium to prevent falls in advance.

When a fall occurs, ward nurses first assess the patient’s condition, including consciousness, temperature, respiration, pulse, and blood pressure. After reporting the findings to the physician, they contact the FRT.

Upon arrival, the FRT assesses the patient’s condition on site and initiates further interventions. The team evaluates for serious injuries such as head trauma or fractures and provides appropriate specialized medical care based on the situation, minimizing the risk of secondary complications.

The team then conducts an incident review to analyze the cause of the fall and establish preventive measures to avoid recurrence. In addition, fall patients receive targeted education to reduce the likelihood of future falls.

When a patient with aggressive delirium is identified, the team works closely with the attending department to ensure that appropriate interventions are provided based on the patient’s condition. Through active support, continuous monitoring, and ongoing management, the team aims to prevent fall incidents before they occur.

During the pilot period from April to July, the FRT provided timely treatment and preventive education for patients with suspected fractures or head injuries caused by falls. Thanks to proactive intervention and continuous follow up, 99 percent of patients recovered with only minor harm and without significant deterioration.

A satisfaction survey conducted among hospital staff showed that 81.6 percent rated the FRT’s expertise and response capabilities as “excellent” or higher. In particular, satisfaction was high in the area of post fall patient management, indicating a positive impact on patient recovery.

Vice President & Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Je-Hwan Lee of Asan Medical Center, stated, “Falls can significantly affect outcomes in elderly patients, making early prevention and immediate response essential. By establishing a specialized fall response system, we will actively support hospitalized patients so they can recover safely and securely under the care of our medical staff.”