Course: Missed Opportunity for Fall Prevention: A Teachable Moment
CME Credits: 1.00
Released: 2021-03-22
A 76-year-old community-dwelling woman with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presented to the emergency department with hip pain after a fall. The results of imaging showed a displaced fracture of the left inferior pubic ramus. She was admitted for surgical treatment of the fracture.
When interviewed, the patient reported recurrent falls during several years. A recent hospital discharge summary included falls on her problem list, but no fall risk assessment had been performed and no interventions had been recommended. She reported being under the care of a primary care physician but denied being asked about falls.
Educational Objective: To encourage clinicians to use a simple framework to stratify fall risk, determine if multifactorial interventions are appropriate, and recommend physical therapy, community-based programs, or home-based exercise programs.
View Full Course