Evidence-Based Fall Prevention for Interdisciplinary Care Teams

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Analyze the multifactorial pathophysiology of falls, differentiating between intrinsic medical conditions, extrinsic environmental hazards, and age-related physiological changes.

2. Select and interpret specific, validated assessment tools (e.g., TUG, Berg Balance Scale) based on the patient's clinical setting and functional capacity.

3. Diagnose potentially reversible medical contributors to falls, such as orthostatic hypotension, syncope, and high-risk medication use, and formulate a prioritized deprescribing plan.

4. Construct an individualized, evidence-based fall-prevention plan that combines exercise strategies (e.g., Tai Chi, Otago), medication risk mitigation, and setting-specific patient/caregiver education with practical materials (e.g., a home safety checklist) and targeted referrals (e.g., OT home safety evaluation, PT, community programs) to reduce recurrent falls.

5. Design a system-level quality improvement initiative using data-driven metrics to lead interdisciplinary fall prevention teams and improve patient safety outcomes.

This activity equips interdisciplinary teams to manage fall risk in older adults through the lens of the CDC STEADI initiative and a comprehensive, function-focused approach to care. Moving beyond basic precautions, participants will master validated tools like the TUG, Berg Balance Scale, and 4-Stage Balance Test to distinguish between static and dynamic instability. Key training covers precise medical evaluation, including neurogenic orthostatic hypotension differentiation, the Canadian CT Head Rule, and evidence-based deprescribing (OPTIMISE/TONE). Uniquely, the course integrates integrative, multimodal strategies to address biomechanical and sensorimotor contributors to falls, including posture and gait optimization, strength and balance programming, vestibular and cervicogenic dizziness considerations, and appropriate use of manual and movement-based therapies to restore stability and function.

The educational need for this course is driven by persistently high fall-related morbidity and mortality (“The Long Lie”) despite broad awareness of fall risk. This activity addresses gaps caused by reliance on generic precautions instead of targeted physiologic/functional interventions, under-recognition of treatable autonomic contributors (e.g., carotid sinus hypersensitivity), and inconsistent interdisciplinary coordination. It also strengthens a commonly missed element: “setting-specific patient/caregiver education” with practical materials (e.g., a home safety checklist) and referral planning (e.g., OT home safety evaluation, PT, community resources) to reduce environmental hazards. By linking clinical decisions with systems tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Post-Fall Huddles, participants gain skills to lead high-reliability fall-prevention programs.