When a Fall Occurs If a fall does occur, the most important consideration is prompt evaluation and treatment of the patient. All events related to a patient trip, slip, or fall should be documented in the medical record, using objective, factual information of the events, evaluation, treatments, and patient response to interventions. It is prudent to carefully assess the circumstances related to the incident to determine where preventative measures can be implemented using a post-fall report form. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has an event reporting tool that was adapted from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Injury and Illness Classification manual (BLS 2007). Completion of a similar reporting document may help identify ways to improve performance and processes. The event reporting form should not be included in the medical record. patient’s Fall Prevention and the Physician Quality Reporting System Underscoring the significance of fall prevention, measures are included in the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS). PQRS is a reporting program that uses a combination of incentive payments and negative payment adjustments to promote reporting of quality information by eligible professionals (EPs). Beginning in 2015, the program also applies a negative payment adjustment to EPs who do not satisfactorily report data on quality measures for covered professional services. The measures pertaining to falls is a two-part measure. Measure #154 (NQF: 0101) Falls: Risk Assessment, is a measurement of the percentage of patients aged 65 years and older with a history of falls that had a risk assessment for falls completed within 12 months. Measure #155, is the percentage of patients aged 65 years and older with a history of falls, and who had a plan of care for falls documented within a 12 months period of time. According to one study, although one out of three older adults (those aged 65 or older) falls each year, less than half talk to their healthcare providers about it. Providers are encouraged to perform proactive risk assessments on patients aged 65 years and older with a history of falls and develop an individualized fall prevention intervention care plan.
When a Fall Occurs If a fall does occur, the most important consideration is prompt evaluation and treatment of the patient. All events related to a patient trip, slip, or fall should be documented in the medical record, using objective, factual information of the events, evaluation, treatments, and patient response to interventions. It is prudent to carefully assess the circumstances related to the incident to determine where preventative measures can be implemented using a post-fall report form. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has an event reporting tool that was adapted from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Injury and Illness Classification manual (BLS 2007). Completion of a similar reporting document may help identify ways to improve performance and processes. The event reporting form should not be included in the patient’s medical record. Fall Prevention and the Physician Quality Reporting System Underscoring the significance of fall prevention, measures are included in the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS). PQRS is a reporting program that uses a combination of incentive payments and negative payment adjustments to promote reporting of quality information by eligible professionals (EPs). Beginning in 2015, the program also applies a negative payment adjustment to EPs who do not satisfactorily report data on quality measures for covered professional services. The measures pertaining to falls is a two-part measure. Measure #154 (NQF: 0101) Falls: Risk Assessment, is a measurement of the percentage of patients aged 65 years and older with a history of falls that had a risk assessment for falls completed within 12 months. Measure #155, is the percentage of patients aged 65 years and older with a history of falls, and who had a plan of care for falls documented within a 12 months period of time. According to one study, although one out of three older adults (those aged 65 or older) falls each year, less than half talk to their healthcare providers about it. Providers are encouraged to perform proactive risk assessments on patients aged 65 years and older with a history of falls and develop an individualized fall prevention intervention care plan.
3_advisory_preventing_falls_in_the_medical_office_smbl_7.29.15.docx