Stop a Fall – Save a Life: Integrating Fall Prevention into Practice

Program Overview

Falls are the number one cause of injury, hospital visits due to trauma, and death from an injury among people age 65 and older. It is estimated that one in four older adults falls each year. Falls among older adults is a serious issue, but research has shown that many fall risks can be reduced.

In addition to this course, there are two other resources available for reference in relation to this topic:

• Integrating Fall Prevention into Practice: A 10-minute interactive module for medical office and clinic staff that provides the basics around falls, covers how to assess and reduce fall risk, and includes tips for how to build a fall prevention focus into your practice’s workflow.
• Fall Prevention Resource List: A two-page “curated” list that provides links to targeted resources across multiple areas of fall prevention.

Educational Objectives

After completing this enduring material, participants should be able to:

• Convey urgency of provider engagement on fall prevention.
• Explain some reasons for why older adults are at risk for falls.
• List some diagnostic options for fall risk screening and assessment.
• Describe a model for effectively integrating fall screening and assessment into a practice workflow.
• Use evidence-based resources for staff training to promote interdisciplinary effort in senior care.
• Quickly access online resources that support a fall prevention focus in their practice.

Faculty

Diana Homeier, MD

Associate Professor of Clinical Family Medicine and Clinical Internal Medicine

Keck School of Medicine of USC

Medical Director, LAC+USC Geriatric Clinic and Adult Protection Team

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, course directors, planning committees, faculty and all others in control of the educational content of the CME activity must disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest that they or their spouse/partner may have had within the past 12 months. If an individual refuses to disclose relevant financial relationships, they will be disqualified from being a part of the planning and implementation of this CME activity. Owners and/or employees of a commercial interest with business lines or products relating to the content of the CME activity will not be permitted to participate in the planning or execution of any accredited activity.

A complete listing of disclosures for all those involved in developing and influencing the content of this activity is below.

Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Scripps Health and Blue Shield of California. Scripps Health is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physicians

Scripps Health designates this internet live course for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses

For the purpose of recertification, the American Nurses Credentialing Center accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME. For the purpose of re-licensure, the California Board of Registered Nursing accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. The majority of state boards accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ as meeting continuing education requirements for license renewal. Nurses should check with their state’s Board of Registered Nursing regarding use of CME credit.

Physician Assistants

PAs may claim a maximum of 1 Category 1 credits for completing this activity. NCCPA accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society.

Resolution of Conflicts of Interest (COI)

Scripps Health is required by ACCME to resolve all conflicts of interest. Scripps Health has identified and resolved all COI prior to the start of this activity by using a multi-step process.