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Steps-4-Safety PATH Fall Prevention Program

Falls are among the most common and serious health problems facing older adults today, resulting in increasing rates of injury and rapidly rising costs for health care services. Interdisciplinary, multifaceted intervention programs have been shown to have the greatest chance of reducing falls and fall-related injuries among community-dwelling older adults. These programs work because they provide older adults with multiple sources of referral for help, as well as multiple opportunities to encourage their ongoing participation.

In an effort to reduce risk factors that can lead to falls for our older adult members, EmblemHealth has created the Steps-4-Safety PATH program. The program is designed to help prevent falls in your patients, our members, through the efforts of an interdisciplinary health care team comprised of physicians, hospital staff, care managers, physical therapists and home care nurses, as well as the member and their family. The goal of the program is to reduce the incidence of falls and assist your patients in living better and longer.

The program serves all HIP Managed Long Term Care members. Additionally, HIP Medicare and Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan members age 65 and older considered at risk for a fall based on clinical criteria, or who may have had a recent fall and/or fracture, are eligible. The program is free and eligible members will receive educational materials through various online and print communications on risk factors and steps they can take to prevent falls.

Fall Risk Prevention Resources:
Click on these links for more useful information, clinical guidelines and tools:

• Drugs Associated with Increased Fall Risk
• Interventions List for Providers
• Patient Assessment Essentials for Providers
• Postfall Evaluation Form
• Risk Factor Evaluation for Providers

Helpful Web sites include:

• http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/adultfalls.html
• http://www.americangeriatrics.org/health_care_professionals/clinical_practice/
  clinical_guidelines_recommendations/prevention_of_falls_summary_of_recommendations

If you would like more information about this program, please contact the Quality Improvement department at 1-888-447-5451.