Palarum
Intelligent Fall Prevention Solutions

Palarum LLC is a leading medtech company specializing in advanced wearable fall prevention and mobility monitoring systems for hospitals, nursing homes, physical therapy, and rehabilitation centers. ‘Designed by nurses for nurses,’ Palarum’s groundbreaking Patient is UP (PUP) system is a breakthrough solution for preventing patient falls, which are among the most frequent and costly sentinel events in U.S. hospitals.

“We have revolutionized fall prevention with a smart solution for patient safety and mobility,” says Patrick Baker, founder and CEO of Cincinnati-based Palarum. “The PUP system seamlessly integrates with current nursing workflows in acute care and healthcare settings, serving as a powerful tool to prevent falls. Improving patient safety and satisfaction is a top priority for all hospitals.”

The integrated fall monitoring system begins with Palarum’s SmartSocks, which are crafted with patented eTextile and IoT innovation. When a fall-risk patient gets out of bed unassisted, the socks remotely send immediate and accurate alerts to the three nearest clinicians via Palarum’s SmartBadge, as well as to the nursing station. The alert prompts a rapid response designed to prevent a patient fall before it happens. It also enables hospitals and nursing management to receive comprehensive daily reports on stand events, nurse intervention, and outcomes.

Improving Patient Safety with e-Wearable Technology

According to the Joint Commission’s Sentinel Event Data 2022 Annual Review, hospitals reported, on average, a total of 1,441 sentinel events during the year. Patient falls account for a staggering 42 percent of the events, which can result in severe injuries like fractures, bleeding, head trauma, and even death.

“A major cause of falls among hospitalized patients can be attributed to human nature. They tend to overlook precautions and engage in risky actions in an effort to regain their independence or not to overburden their caregivers,” says Baker.

Inpatient falls can also lead to legal hurdles and reimbursement issues for hospitals, as falls are deemed ‘preventable’ or ‘never’ events by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

While several current technologies attempt to prevent inpatient falls, including bed, floor, and chair alarms, they typically fall short of reducing fall incidents. Alarm systems often trigger false alarms, leading nurses to grow desensitized and less responsive to alerts—a phenomenon known as alarm fatigue. A recent hospital study showed that 70 percent of all bed alarms were false, resulting in reduced staff responsiveness and an average of 7.6 safety events for every patient admission.

Other fall prevention systems, such as in-room video monitoring and live patient “sitters,” are costly and can also be viewed as intrusions of patient privacy or confidentiality.

The PUP system overcomes these shortcomings by producing highly accurate and reliable alerts regarding patients at imminent risk of falling. The PUP alarm technology ensures prompt responses to safety events and reduces chronic alarm fatigue among medical staff.

“Our solution complements existing nursing practices and adds value to the working staff and nursing teams. It also provides valuable insights to clinicians,” says Chris Baker, Palarum co-founder and VP for business development and marketing.

PUP SmartSocks use no bulky or obtrusive components. Patented fabric sensors operate within conductive threads that are woven into the soles of the socks. The sensors detect real-time changes in patient movement and foot pressure. The sock fabric also integrates a small individual measuring unit (IMU) that provides information about a patient’s orientation and speed. The IMU, called the “beetle,” analyzes motion data drawn from nine different points in the socks to validate that a patient is standing or walking unassisted. The beetle ensures a seamless line of communication and enables real-time transmission of vital data.

Our unwavering commitment to patient safety and a drive to maximize the capabilities of healthcare providers has allowed us to shape the future of healthcare

At its core, the PUP system leverages a combination of cutting-edge technologies, including in-room and master tablets, Palarum SmartBadges, and strategically placed beacons. Once deployed, the system pairs a patient’s SmartSocks with the in-room tablet via Bluetooth, enabling direct communication with the central control unit. Nurses also wear SmartBadges, serving as identification and communication tools.

When a patient wearing the PUP socks rises or attempts to walk, an alarm alerts the nearest nurses and the central nursing station. It also triggers alerts on in-room tablets and master tablets at the nurse’s station. The signal is relayed through the hospital’s WiFi network, using a sophisticated algorithm to identify the three closest caregivers wearing badges. The proximity-based system’s triaging mechanism ensures that the right personnel closest to the patient receive immediate notification. When a nurse enters the patient’s room, all alarms for the incident automatically deactivate, preventing unnecessary distractions.

The PUP system also works with other devices in a patient’s room, unlocking expanded connectivity and the potential for improved patient experiences. For example, the system can automatically activate room lighting when a patient wearing the SmartSocks gets off the bed, creating a safer environment.

The non-intrusive nature of the PUP SmartSocks creates an environment of comfort, dignity, and autonomy for patients. The safety net offered by PUP SmartSocks overcomes the restrictions and concerns for traditional fall prevention measures, while establishing a new standard and culture of patient safety.

Crafting a Results-Driven Approach to the Future of Fall Prevention

The success of Palarum’s PUP SmartSocks is underpinned by rigorous research and robust clinical trials. In recent studies, the PUP system was implemented across various healthcare facilities with more than 3,000 patients and spanning 10,000 patient days. The results showcased a reduction of patient falls by up to 73 percent. In addition, its intelligent monitoring capabilities resulted in a 43 percent reduction in false alarms, demonstrating the system’s ability to promptly intervene, prevent accidents and safeguard patients.
Additional compelling findings arose from a clinical Institutional Review Board (IRB) study at Ohio State University OSU Wexner Center. During the testing period of the study, not a single patient fall was detected, and the rate of false alarms was exceptionally low, at 0.2 percent. The analysis of nurse response times indicated a median response time of 24 seconds as compared to one to five minutes. These findings contribute to the credibility and recognition of the PUP system’s ability to prevent falls, solidifying its efficacy in enhancing patient safety and improving nursing staff efficiencies.



The success of the PUP system lies in Palarum’s skilled team of seasoned healthcare professionals with a deep understanding of the industry. The multi-disciplinary expertise within the Palarum organization incorporates a comprehensive knowledge of workflows, hospital systems, and patient care. The team’s firsthand experience at the bedside informs the design and implementation of a nurse-centric solution for addressing critical patient fall challenges.

The PUP system has proven effective in providing high impact fall prevention solutions to acute care settings, such as The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Leveraging the system’s extensive range of collected data points, Palarum is exploring new applications for other health-related environments, such as progressive mobility tracking in rehab facilities, athletic performance monitoring in training venues, e-rounding efficiency, and mobile data-gathering, as well as additional uses for wearable textile capabilities.

“Our unwavering commitment to patient safety and a drive to maximize the capabilities of healthcare providers has allowed us to shape the future of healthcare,” says Chris.