Patients who have undergone surgery or who are taking pain medications may find it difficult to stand, walk or maintain their balance. They also may lose strength or flexibility after being sedentary or experience changes in cognition, memory, vision and hearing, making them more prone to falls.

Moreover, if a patient has a history of falls before entering the hospital, he or she is at an increased risk of falling while in the hospital.

Preventing patients from falling while in the hospital is a priority at UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco. Our falls prevention program is designed to carefully monitor patients at risk for falls and involves everyone on the health care team.