Risk Assessment and the Impact of Point of Contact Intervention Following Emergency Department Presentation with a Fall

<p><i>Aim:</i> To determine whether a multifactorial intervention can decrease the frequency of secondary falls in older patients presenting to an emergency department with a fall. <i>Methods:</i> A randomized control design comparing multifactorial follow-up intervention to standard care. Risk assessments included Falls Risk for Older Persons—Community Setting Screening Tool (FROP Com Screen) and the Two Item Screening Tool, which were compared for sensitivity. <i>Results:</i> Eight patients (14%) in the control group and 11 patients (20.8%) in the intervention group experienced falls (<i>p</i> = 0.373). The proportion of those identified as high risk that fell was similar between the FROP Com Screen (17%) and the Two Item Screening Tool (17%). Patients on average waited 35 days in the control group and 40 days in the intervention group for an outpatient appointment. <i>Conclusions:</i> There was no significant benefit of the intervention. Our findings support interdisciplinary collaboration, multifactorial intervention, and risk management for falls prevention.</p

ITS analysis for median length of stay in ED (measured in hours): Estimated trend lines for Without FHR (broken line) and with FHR (solid line).

<p>Series with markers represent actual data.</p

Results of ITS analysis for rate of access block: Estimated trend lines for Without FHR (broken line) and with FHR (solid line).

<p>Series with markers represent actual data.</p

Results of ITS analysis for mean ED occupancy rate: Estimated trend lines for Without FHR (broken line) and with FHR (solid line).

<p>Series with markers represent actual data.</p

Summary results per hospital of attendance rates, time in ED, flow and disposition.

<p>Summary results per hospital of attendance rates, time in ED, flow and disposition.</p