The 8th Annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day is today. Zach Read recently published an article on the Otago Exercise Program. The Otago Exercise Program is an evidence-based educational approach to reduce falls in older adults.
Physical therapists at the Carolina Geriatric Education Center at the UNC School of Medicine began utilizing the program two years ago. When the program is done properly, patients see a 35-40% decrease in falls.
While fall prevention is always the best outcome, falls can and do still happen.
The School of Medicine UNCsim program recently presented at the Association of Standardized Patient Educators Annual Scientific Meeting on a program to train physical therapy students to avoid and respond to falls when they do happen(1). The students utilize efficient teamwork and communication for managing the standardized patients, equipment, obstacle, and fall. The standardized patient either trips or falls to evaluate the student’s assistance and/or guarding abilities. The fall results in dislodgement of the breathing tube or IV. The experience ends with the arrival of a nurse and airway team.
1. Hobbs GW, Messina J, Pastva AM. Taking the Fall: Decision-Making and Teamwork for Physical Therapy Students. Association of Standardized Patient Educators Annual Scientific Meeting.
For more information on the Otago Exercise Program, you can read Zach’s article here.