Screening and assessing risk of falls and harm from falling Overview of what is required Suggested approach Examples of evidence both assessment and recording are to be For community health services that do not have Orientation manuals, education resources and monitored and strategies to increase the rate of the capacity to conduct a comprehensive records of attendance at training by the assessment implemented, if appropriate. assessment, the falls management system workforce on falls risk factors and assessment. should include a process that includes referrals Reports on the proportion of consumers at risk for consumers to seek follow-up with another of falling that receive a comprehensive falls clinician, e.g. a general practitioner, community assessment are provided to the individual or pharmacist or rehabilitation service, where committee responsible for the falls management available. system and/or the governing body. Conduct local audits, or participate in audits of Reports on the number of consumers assessed compliance conducted by the overarching and the incidence of falls. health service organisation to assess the Observational audits on use of the assessment completion of comprehensive falls tool. assessments. Relevant documentation from committees and Seek feedback from the workforce on the other meetings where reports on the use of falls barriers to conducting comprehensive falls assessment tools and compliance with assessments and use of agreed falls assessment processes are reviewed and assessment tools. discussed. Provide reports on the proportion of at risk A quality improvement plan in line with that consumers receiving a comprehensive falls includes actions to address issues identified. assessment to the individual or committee Examples of improvement activities that have responsible for the falls management system been implemented and evaluated. and/or the governing body. Identify strategies to increase the rate of at risk consumers receiving a comprehensive falls assessment.
Screening and assessing risk of falls and harm from falling Overview of what is required Suggested approach Examples of evidence both assessment and recording are to be monitored and strategies to increase the rate of assessment implemented, if appropriate. For community health services that do not have the capacity to conduct a comprehensive assessment, the falls management system should include a process that includes referrals for consumers to seek follow-up with another clinician, e.g. a general practitioner, community pharmacist or rehabilitation service, where available. Conduct local audits, or participate in audits of compliance conducted by the overarching health service organisation to assess the completion of comprehensive falls assessments. Seek feedback from the workforce on the barriers to conducting comprehensive falls assessments and use of agreed falls assessment tools. Provide reports on the proportion of at risk consumers receiving a comprehensive falls assessment to the individual or committee responsible for the falls management system and/or the governing body. Identify strategies to increase the rate of at risk consumers receiving a comprehensive falls assessment. Orientation manuals, education resources and records of attendance at training by the workforce on falls risk factors and assessment. Reports on the proportion of consumers at risk of falling that receive a comprehensive falls assessment are provided to the individual or committee responsible for the falls management system and/or the governing body. Reports on the number of consumers assessed and the incidence of falls. Observational audits on use of the assessment tool. Relevant documentation from committees and other meetings where reports on the use of falls assessment tools and compliance with assessment processes are reviewed and discussed. A quality improvement plan in line with that includes actions to address issues identified. Examples of improvement activities that have been implemented and evaluated.
Guide-to-the-NSQHS-Standards-for-community-health-services-February-2016.docx