ASSESSING PARAMEDICS' PERSPECTIVES ON AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VIRTUAL OBSERVATION UNIT FALL PREVENTION PROGRAM

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Emergency Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Falls are a primary cause of injury and death in older adults.
• The Emergency Department Virtual Observation Unit (EDVOU) was developed to provide home-based observation care for elderly emergency department patients.
• Assessing fall risk in older adults is crucial for preventing injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) paramedics participating in the EDVOU Fall Program.
• To understand paramedics' perspectives on implementing a home-based fall prevention program.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews.
• Interviews were conducted with paramedics involved in the EDVOU Fall Program.
• Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic coding.

Main Results:

• Fifteen paramedics were interviewed, representing 42% of the program's participants.
• Key themes included paramedics learning new skills, gaining unique patient insights from the home environment, and feeling more integrated into the healthcare team.
• Paramedics reported an overwhelmingly positive experience with the program.

Conclusions:

• MIH paramedics found the EDVOU Fall Program highly beneficial, enhancing their role in fall prevention.
• The program enabled paramedics to develop new skills, leverage unique home-visit perspectives, and feel more valued within the patient care continuum.
• Paramedics' home-based medical care role is a valuable, underutilized resource for preventative care, especially within virtual fall programs.