A falls early response service in Aotearoa New Zealand: a scoping review
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.A joint occupational therapy and paramedic falls early response service (FERS) shows promise for improving patient outcomes and optimizing resource use. Further pilot studies are planned to confirm cost-effectiveness and benefits.
Area Of Science
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background
- Falls are a significant public health concern, particularly among older adults.
- Effective early response services are crucial for mitigating the impact of falls and reducing healthcare system burden.
- The integration of allied health professions with emergency medical services is an emerging area for optimizing community care.
Approach
- A comprehensive scoping review was conducted to identify and synthesize evidence on combined occupational therapy and paramedicine falls early response services (FERS).
- Searches included multiple databases and grey literature, with rigorous screening and data extraction by independent reviewers.
- Included studies spanned 2010-2023, encompassing a wide range of participant numbers and healthcare professional combinations.
Key Points
- Fourteen sources were identified from over 6,400 initial records.
- Evidence suggests a growing interest in combined FERS, with over half of the publications appearing after 2019.
- Studies involved diverse participant numbers, from small pilot groups to large-scale population data.
Conclusions
- A collaborative FERS model involving occupational therapy and paramedics offers potential benefits for fall patients, ambulance services, and hospitals.
- This integrated approach may lead to improved cost-effectiveness and resource management within healthcare systems.
- Results support the exploration of a pilot study to further evaluate the economic and clinical advantages of such a service.
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