Falls-Risk Screening Tool for Fall Risk
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial examines the effectiveness of the Falls-Risk Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Tool in identifying older adults at risk of falling after an emergency department (ED) visit. The tool automatically screens patients and suggests referrals to a specialized clinic if they face a high risk of falls. The goal is to prevent future falls by identifying risks early and providing appropriate follow-up care. It targets patients aged 65 or older who have been discharged from the ED. As an unphased trial, this study allows patients to contribute to innovative research that could improve fall prevention strategies for older adults.
Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?
The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.
What prior data suggests that this clinical decision support system is safe for older adult ED patients?
Research has shown that tools like the Falls-Risk Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Tool, used in this study, are generally safe for people. These tools assess the risk of falling and assist healthcare providers in making decisions to prevent falls.
One study found that a fall-prevention toolkit significantly reduced falls and related injuries. Another study emphasized that these support systems are designed to meet the needs of both healthcare teams and patients, focusing on safety.
While no specific reports of negative effects from the Falls-Risk CDS Tool exist, similar tools used in healthcare settings are generally well-tolerated. They are not medical treatments but support systems to help reduce the risk of falls.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores an innovative way to reduce fall risks among older adults in emergency departments. The Falls-Risk Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Tool is unique because it automates the screening process, helping healthcare providers quickly identify patients who might be at risk of falling. Unlike traditional methods that might rely on manual assessments, this tool streamlines the process and ensures consistent evaluations. By effectively integrating technology into patient care, the trial aims to improve safety outcomes for seniors, potentially setting a new standard for falls prevention in emergency settings.
What evidence suggests that this CDS tool is effective for screening older adults for fall risk?
Research has shown that the Falls-Risk Clinical Decision Support (CDS) tool effectively identifies older adults in the emergency department who might fall in the future. In this trial, patients aged 65 and older discharged from the emergency department will be assessed using this tool. Studies have demonstrated that the tool helps spot patients at high risk of falling, enabling doctors to quickly refer them to specialized clinics. For instance, in two emergency departments where the tool was used, it integrated well into existing processes, facilitating fall screening without adding extra work for the staff. This tool combines elements of other screening methods to provide a thorough assessment. Overall, it aims to reduce future falls and potentially lower healthcare use related to fall injuries.678910
Who Is on the Research Team?
Brian W Patterson, MD, MPH
Principal Investigator
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Implementation of the automated falls-risk screening and referral tool in the emergency department
Data Collection
Data collected from EHR and Medicare claims to assess effectiveness of the intervention
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for fall-related injuries and healthcare visits post-ED visit
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Falls-Risk Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Tool
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Patients aged 65 and older who are in the emergency department and subsequently discharged (not admitted)
Patients aged 65 and older who are in the emergency department and subsequently discharged (not admitted)
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Lead Sponsor
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Collaborator
Citations
Effectiveness of an Emergency Department–Based ...
The ML-CDS tool under study has been implemented at 2 of the 3 EDs in our study. As of April 2023, a total of 1326 patient encounters have been ...
Effectiveness of an Automated Falls-Risk Screening and ...
The investigators hypothesize that ED patients referred using the falls risk CDS tool will have decreased healthcare use due to fall-related injuries, and that ...
AHRQ Research Studies
This research explored ways to improve an Emergency Department clinical decision support tool designed to prevent future falls among older ...
Screening and assessment of falls risk in the emergency ...
This tool comprises several components of other screening tools (see Table 1). Cut-off scores were used to identify falls risks, which were reviewed by a ...
Collaborative Design and Implementation of a Clinical ...
Existing fall screening tools have been poorly adopted due to ED staff/provider burden and lack of workflow integration. To address this, we developed an ...
Impact of a Decision Support System on Fall-Prevention ...
In South Korea, periodic assessment of a patient's fall risk using a verified scientific tool is a main safety requirement for health care or ...
Evaluation of a Patient-Centered Fall-Prevention Tool Kit to ...
In this nonrandomized controlled trial, implementation of a fall-prevention tool kit was associated with a significant reduction in falls and related injuries.
Clinical Decision Support for Fall Prevention: Defining End- ...
Our study defines the primary care team and patient user needs for a CDS tool designed for fall prevention management in primary care. Our processes highlight ...
The Ongoing Journey to Prevent Patient Falls | PSNet
We have the research and evidence we need to prevent falls. We have identified common risk factors and have a reliable fall risk assessment tool ...
Effects of a clinical decision support system and patient portal ...
The findings of this study will add valuable insights about how digital health informatics tools that target physicians and older adults can ...
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