Fall Prevention
The CDC, government programs, and major medical systems believe that fall risk is a growing epidemic with more than one third of adults over 65 years old falling annually and 30% of those people suffering moderate to severe injuries. As healthcare professionals, we play an integral role in identifying risk factors for falls, as well as providing treatment interventions that lead to a reduction in the incidence of falls and hospital readmissions for fall-related injuries.
What this certification series will address:
In this evidence-based, treatment-centered certification, therapists will learn important skills that will allow for better recognition of fall risk factors as well as research-driven and clinically proven interventions to improve patient quality of life and functional independence. In addition to innovative treatment strategies, participants will also learn how to appropriately document skilled interventions to ensure proper reimbursement for services. Finally, the certification content will outline the current best practices and interventions available to healthcare professionals in managing falls and aid in the prevention of future falls.
What courses are included
"Fall Prevention Strategies"
Taught by Brandi Singleton, PT, DPT, CCI
In this evidence-based, treatment-centered course, therapists will learn important skills that will allow for better recognition of fall risk factors as well as research-driven and clinically proven interventions to improve patient quality of life and functional independence. In addition to innovative treatment strategies, participants will also learn how to appropriately document skilled interventions to ensure proper reimbursement for services.
Available as:
6-Hour Online Video
6-Hour Live Session
Highlights
- Strategies to instantly strengthen core stability, function, balance, posture and mobility in the aging senior population
- Evidence-based clinical assessments to recognize and quantify balance-related deficits
- Techniques and interventions that quicklyimprove gait mechanics and stability to increase safety and independence in the geriatric population
- Master the art of providing skilled, efficient, point of service documentation to ensure proper reimbursement for services
- Prepare your patients for real world balance challenges by utilizing techniques that translate to function outside of the clinical setting
Brandi Singleton, PT, DPT, CCI, is an experienced physical therapist with expertise in geriatric physical therapy and home assessments. She previously earned her Bachelor's degree in Biology at Winthrop University and Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Armstrong State University. Dr. Singleton is an APTA credentialed clinical instructor and currently serves as the lead physical therapist and Clinic Coordinator of Clinical Education (CCCE) at a fast paced sub-acute rehabilitation facility in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. She was a presenter at the 2012 APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) National Conference in Chicago, Illinois. She is passionate about demystifying age-related functional deficit myths through evidence-based practice and functional outcome measures.
DISCLOSURES
FINANCIAL: Brandi Singleton is compensated by Summit as an instructor.
NONFINANCIAL: Brandi Singleton has no non-financial relationships to disclose.
- Understanding the Impact Falls Have on the Healthcare Industry
- Major risk factors that contribute to falls
- What can we do as healthcare provider to impact these statistics?
- Identify Various Contributors to Falls in the Geriatric Population
- Intrinsic influences
- Extrinsic influences and correction of environmental hazards
- Psychological influences including dementia and fear of falling
- Recognize vestibular influences on balance deficits
- The Best Standardized Assessment Tools to Track Patient Functional Status
- Physical-based assessments and implications
- Psychological-based assessments andimplications
- Customized Treatment for Patients of Variable Functional Levels
- Postural assessment and training
- Stabilization exercises
- Proprioceptive training
- Correction of gait abnormalities
- Effective techniques for high-functioning patients withbalance deficits
- Creative techniques and approaches for low-level patients
- Demo/Videos
- Essential Skills Needed to Reintegrate into Home and Community Environments
- Appropriate DME recommendations
- Environmental modifications
- Effective strategies when a home assessment is notpossible
- Effective and Efficient Documentation Based on the Latest Medicare Guidelines
- Effective goal-writing to lay the foundation for comprehensive treatment
- Skilled daily and weekly treatment notes
- Incorporate point of service documentation withoutcompromising treatment quality in the world of rising productivity standards
- Quantify progress at discharge to validate the efficacyof therapy services
- Application Examples
- Identify three physiological contributors to falls in the elderly population.
- Utilize appropriate assessment tools for determining fall risk in the aging senior population.
- Implement treatment of balance deficits to prevent hospital re-admissions with or without cutting-edge equipment.
- Develop individualized exercise programs to improve strength and stability in older adults with balance deficits.
- Conduct environmental modifications on a shoestring budget to prevent falls in the home.
- Justify medical necessity and ensure reimbursement with accurate documentation of balance and strength trainingservices.
"Fall Prevention Strategies"
Taught by Brian Trzaskos, PT, LMT, CSCS, CMP, MI-C
Integrative rehabilitation professionals realize that thebody and mind function inseparably in all human activity. This insightful and innovative program will transform traditional fallprevention thinking into a more holistic concept of care by outlining a simple set of integrative rehabilitation principles. Throughout the day, participants will practice researchsupported integrative movement and manual strategies that can be immediately applied in diverse clinical settingsresulting in lower cost and highly effective balance enhancement outcomes.
Available as:
6-Hour Online Video
6-Hour Live Session
Highlights
- Immediately apply integrative thought, movement, and manual strategies that prevent falls in diverse clinical settings
- Master the four pillars of integrative neuromuscular balance
- Experience hands-on movement labs throughout the day to stimulate natural balance mechanisms
- Quickly employ simple and effective rehabilitative Tai Chi movements into practice
- The secrets to successful, sustainable, and cost saving home exercise programs that prevent falls and re- hospitalization
- Become a more mindful and perceptive rehabilitationprofessional
Brian Trzaskos, PT, LMT, CSCS, CMP, MI-C, is a body-mind rehabilitation expert and co-creator of the Sensation-Based Mindset method. He believes that education is powerful medicine that allows people to access their greatest healing potentials and has extensive experience in diverse clinical settings ranging from working at the world- renowned Craig Hospital for TBI and SCI Rehabilitation, to operating his own holistic center in Upstate New York. Mr. Trzaskos is well known for making even the most difficult concepts easy to understand and immediately applicable to clinical practice. He is the president of NEW Health Inc. and director of the Institute for Rehabilitative Qigong & Tai Chi, which specializes in the integration of western body-mind science and the ancient healing arts of Qigong & Tai Chi. As a practicing physical therapist and student of eastern movement and meditation practices for over two decades, Mr. Trzaskos holds advanced certifications in both Western and Eastern healing arts truly bringing together the best of both worlds in modern rehabilitative care. He earned his degree in Physical Therapy from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
DISCLOSURES
FINANCIAL: Brian Trzaskos is compensated as the owner of NEW Health Inc. and by Summit as an instructor.
NONFINANCIAL: Brian Trzaskos has no nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
- Effectively Enhancing Balance in Adult Populations
- Balance components
- Reducing re-hospitalizations
- Neuromuscular re-education approach
- Identifying Intrinsic and Extrinsic Risk Factors for Falls
- Red flags for intrinsic risk factors
- Mental/emotional (pain, fear)
- Bio-energetic aspects
- Red flags for extrinsic risk factors - Trip hazards, adaptive equipment, footwear, etc.
- Best Use of Standardized Assessment Tools for Fall Risk
- Rehabilitation tools for immediate use
- Berg
- Tinetti
- Timed Up and Go
- ADL assessment tools
- Additional tools
- Hands-on lab
- Neuromuscular Re-education Interventions to Reduce Fall Risk (Lab)
- Biomechanical Alignment
- Pulmonary Effects on fall risk
- Overcoming issues with vision
- Strengthening functional vision systems
- Improving core function
- Dynamic Control
- The Latest Research for Fall Risk Reduction
- Multidimensional Fall Prevention
- Tai Chi
- Case Studies
- Hands-on lab
- Using Tai Chi for Rehabilitation and Balance (Lab)
- Principles and Fundamentals
- Seated
- Standing
- Stepping / Walking
- Identify integrative balance enhancement and fall risk factors for multidimensional treatment planning.
- Integrate fall risk assessment with functional performance to streamline treatment goals.
- Demonstrate specific neuromuscular re-education techniques to naturally stimulate balance mechanisms.
- Describe research supported benefits of integrativebalance strategies for effective patient education.
- Employ the scientific principles of Rehabilitative Tai Chi with diverse patient populations.
- Design simple, effective, and sustainable home exercise programs to maximize patient outcomes.
"Comprehensive Management of Falls in Older Adults"
Taught by Nicki Dawson, PT, PhD, GCS
Falls among older adults remain one the most pressing issues for rehabilitation professionals. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling and falls cost the healthcare system about $31 billion dollars annually. The good news is that falls are not a normal part of aging and that they are preventable. Additionally, many of the risk factors associated with falling can be modified with the help of healthcare professionals. But clinicians have to understand the complexnature of falls and implement the most up to date interventions to effectively manage these patients.
This course will provide attendees a deeper understanding of the interplay between risk factors associated with falls. Additionally, attendees will review and practice the most evidence-based examination and evaluative tools available to be able to develop the best individualized plan of care of their patient and document skilled justification for treatment. Finally, the course content will outline the current best practices and interventions available to healthcare professionals in managing falls and aid in the prevention of future falls.
Available as:
2-Hour Online Video
Highlights
- Immediately improve your ability to identify older adults at higher risk for falls using practical assessment techniques
- Practical assessment and re-assessment strategies for functional deficits, underlying conditions, and co-morbidities you can use the next day
Nicole Dawson, PT, PhD, GCS is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Physical Therapy at the University of Central Florida and Co-Director of the Innovative Mobility Innovative (IMOVET) Lab. She graduated from Ohio University with a Master's degree in Physical Therapy in 2002. Dr. Dawson is a Board Certified Geriatric Physical Therapist with over 17 years of clinical experience along with a PhD in Adult Development & Aging Psychology from Cleveland State University. She has been recognized for excellence in teaching by the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy through receipt of the Distinguished Educator Award and the American Physical Therapy Association being awarded the Margaret L. Moore Outstanding New Academic Faculty Award. Her current area of research includes developing non-pharmacological interventions to improve functional and psychosocial outcomes in older adults with chronic disease including those with dementia, identifying predictors of falls and gait disorders in older adults, as well as gaining a better understanding of the disability experience. Dr. Dawson has been published in peer-reviewed journals including The Gerontologist and the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy. She has presented at numerous international and national conferences on the subject of geriatric rehabilitation. She is passionate about bettering the treatment and care of older adults and is dedicated to assisting students and clinicians in gaining skills and knowledge to better help their patients maximize their potential.
DISCLOSURES
FINANCIAL: Nicole Dawson is compensated by Summit as an instructor.
NONFINANCIAL: Nicole Dawson has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals on the topic of Geriatric Physical Therapy.
- Falls Demography and Risk Factors
- Prevalence and economic impact
- Mobility, medical comorbidities, psychosocial, pharmacological risk factors
- Comprehensive Assessment of Falls Risk
- STEADI checklist and toolkit
- Mobility assessment
- Best Practice and Evidence-Based Interventions for Falls Risk
- Medical management
- Exercise and physical activity
- Discussion/Questions
- Describe the prevalence, morbidity, and economic impact of falls in the United States.
- Outline the risk factors associated with falls.
- Utilize current literature to complete a comprehensiveexamination and evaluation.
- Develop an individualized plan of care based on evaluative results.
- Provide accompanying documentation to support plan of care and monitor patient progress.
"How Classes of Medications Impact Falls"
Taught by Lisa Milliken, MA, CCC-SLP, FNAP, CDP, RAC- CT
Effective fall prevention programs for older adults should include an analysis of multiple components when conducting a root cause analysis. Polypharmacy is significant factor to consider, as older adults often experience greater adverse effects of medications thanyounger people, due to their reduced kidney and liver function. This course will initially share the facts related to common reasons for resident falls and will then focus on one of those components; the effects of medications on older people and the specific classes known to influence a person's fall risk. Details will be shared regarding three types of medications, to include those which affect the brain and cognition ("psychoactives"), those which affect blood pressure and those which lower blood sugar. The interprofessional team member's communicationstrategies will then be shared for optimal person-centered fall risk reduction.
Available as:
2-Hour Online Video
Highlights
- Immediately decrease your client's fall risk with an analysis of their specific medications, given the information for each drug class
- Discuss the risk vs. benefit analyseswith the resident's physician with information learned from this course
Lisa Young Milliken, MA, CCC-SLP, FNAP, CDP, RAC- CT has served as a practitioner, regional manager, vice president, consultant, compliance director and education specialist. She has lectured at the state and national level with over 300 professional education courses on topics of importance to the healthcare professional. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and has mentored team members across the country in senior retirement communities on clinical programming for the past 30 years. She also volunteers with community programs in the Houston area to support caregivers of family members living with multiple disorders. Lisa is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, where she currently serves as a State Advocate for Medicare Policy for Texas. She is Vice President of Professional Services for the Texas Speech-Language and Hearing Association and serves on the Financial Advisory Committee and the Publications Board of this organization. She is a Distinguished Fellow of Public Policy for the National Academies of Practice where she serves as the Co-Chair of the Forum Planning Committee and is a prior board president of the Louisiana Speech- Language and Hearing Association and an alumnus of the Council of State Association Presidents. Finally, she is a member of the Kingwood- Humble Aggie Mom Board and lives in Houston, Texas.
DISCLOSURES
FINANCIAL: Lisa Milliken is compensated by Summit as an instructor.
NONFINANCIAL: Lisa Milliken is a member of the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) where she serves as the Texas State Advocate for Medicare Policy, for which she receives CMS updates, and she serves on the ASHA Intersections CE committee. She is also Vice President of Professional Services for the Texas Speech-Language Hearing Association (TSHA) and works with numerous TSHA committees. She is a Fellow of Distinguished Public Policy for the National Academy of Practice, and is also the Co-Chair of the Annual Forum for this organization. She is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner.
- Effects of Polypharmacy with Older Adults
- Factors of aging effects and the response to drugs
- Adverse drug events
- Higher risk factors with polypharmacy and the aging process
- Prevalence of falls and the medication connection to falls
- Types of Medications That Should Be Reviewed to Prevent Falls
- Medications that affect the brain & cognition
- Medications that affect blood pressure
- Medications that lower blood sugar
- Recommendations for monitoring effects of medications
- List 3 research-based factors relating polypharmacy tonegative clinical consequences.
- Describe how aging significantly affects drug clearance.
- List at least 4 medications listed in the Beers Criteria that may be inappropriate for people over the age of 65.
- Discuss the significance of medication monitoring as apart of the overall fall prevention program.
- List the 3 major types of medication that should be reviewed as a potential root cause of falls.
- Cite the interprofessional team communication strategies to include in planning for personcentered fall risk reduction.