A sitter-reduction program in an acute health care system.

Maintaining quality while being financial stewards is essential in today's health care climate. One strategy considered effective for keeping patients safe is the use of sitters. However, research supporting the effectiveness of this intervention for reducing certain patient safety outcomes is limited. A sitter-reduction program in one hospital resulted in $1.2 million in annual savings without negatively impacting fall rates. The intentional presence of the nursing staff was pivotal to the successful reduction in sitter use.