Using a checklist to evaluate hospitalized patients who suffer a fall
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
This 45 minute Power Point presentation is designed to provide trainees and practicing hospitalists with an approach to the evaluation of hospitalized patients who fall. It was originally developed to provide advice to interns and residents at the University of New Mexico upon implementation of our hospital’s multidisciplinary falls prevention program. It is case-based, includes a brief review of the evidenced-based literature, and then gives the authors’ opinions about how best to approach this situation. Also included is a list of pertinent literature and a multidisciplinary checklist, developed by the authors and used at the University of New Mexico Hospital.
1. Identify at least 3 factors that are epidemiologically associated with falls in the elderly.
2. State the most common etiology of falling in the elderly.
3. Summarize the epidemiology of in-patient falls.
4. Describe the three steps in evaluating the in-patient who falls
5. Demonstrate an appropriate bedside evaluation for injury of an in-patient who has fallen.
6. Demonstrate how a multi-disciplinary team can use a checklist to evaluate and manage a hospitalized patient who has fallen.
This presentation was specifically designed for the in-patient hospital setting. The authors do not advocate using this approach in other settings (such as emergency departments, skilled nursing facilities, or nursing homes). Many of the recommendations are based on the authors’ opinions as there is little-evidenced based literature in this area. The authors are formally studying the clinical usefulness of the checklist, and are especially interested in comments, critical appraisals, and similar experience of others. Contact the authors at [email protected].