Pediatric Falls Assessment Tool

Prevention of hospital falls is an important aspect of the management of patients in acute care settings. Failure to provide a safe environment can lead to falls that may result in injury. The General Risk Assessment for Pediatric In-patient Falls (GRAF PIF©) predictor model, a risk assessment tool for pediatric inpatient falls, assists in identifying children at risk.

The tool was researched and developed at Lurie Children's by Elaine Graf, PhD, RN, NE-BC. Further validation research was conducted at Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Maine. The GRAF PIF is one of the two tools that is currently validated for use with pediatric inpatients.

The screening tool is licensed and used by nursing staff at over 400 children's hospitals nation-wide to identify children at risk of injury from falls – a Joint Commission patient safety goal. At Lurie Children's, use of the GRAF PIF has kept fall rates below 1 per thousand patient days and fall injuries are few and minor.

For questions regarding the licensing and use of the GRAF PIF, please contact Vicki DeNardo, BSN, RN, at 312.227.4715 or at vdenardo@luriechildrens.org. ​