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Fall Risk Identification Throughout the Continuum of Care for Elderly Trauma Patients: An Injury Prevention
Meaghan R Crawley1, Alistair J Chapman2, Amy Koestner1
1Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Trauma Services, 100 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA.
Injury
|September 8, 2022
Summary
Many elderly trauma patients admitted for falls were already at risk beforehand. Identifying fall risk early and providing education can prevent recurrent falls and reduce mortality in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Trauma
- Fall Prevention
- Public Health
Background:
- Falls are a leading cause of trauma deaths globally, especially in the elderly.
- Early identification and intervention for fall risk can significantly reduce injuries and mortality.
- Geriatric trauma patients admitted for falls represent a critical population for targeted prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify missed opportunities in fall risk assessment and intervention for geriatric trauma patients.
- To evaluate the prevalence of prior fall risk in patients admitted for a fall.
- To determine the rate of recurrent falls and the provision of fall prevention education at discharge.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational cohort study of geriatric trauma patients admitted for falls over 36 months.
- Electronic medical record (EMR) review to assess fall risk in the 12 months prior to admission.
- EMR queried for repeat falls post-discharge and documented fall prevention education.
Main Results:
- 64.7% of geriatric trauma patients admitted for falls were identified as high risk in the prior year.
- Only 2% received documented fall prevention education at discharge.
- 32% experienced recurrent falls within a year, with 19.4% readmitted for a repeat fall.
- High-risk patients showed significantly higher readmission and mortality rates.
Conclusions:
- Geriatric trauma patients admitted for falls frequently exhibit pre-existing fall risk, indicating a missed prevention opportunity.
- Implementing early fall risk identification and evidence-based interventions can mitigate recurrent falls and reduce mortality.
- A proactive approach to fall prevention is crucial to address the epidemic of falls in the elderly population.
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