Use checklist for fall assessment in your ED
At Lenoir Memorial Hospital in Kingston, NC, ED patients that meet one or more of these criteria are to be considered as at risk for falls and have a red band placed on the wrist:
- ages 80 years old and older;
- ages 1 to 5 years old;
- recent history of falls (last three months);
- current use of walker, cane, wheelchair, or other assistive device;
- diagnosis or symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack, altered mental status, syncope, delirium, or head injury;
- visually impaired;
- drug or alcohol intoxication;
- use of any of the following drugs: Benzodiazepenes: Xanax (alprazolam), Librium (chlordiazepoxide), Klonopin (clonazepam), Tranxene (clorazepate), Valium (diazepam), Dalmane (flurazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), Versed (midazolam), Serax (oxazepam), Restoril (temazepam), Halcion (triazolam), and Buspar (buspirone). Antiepileptics: Tegretol (carbamazepine), Depakote (divalproex), Dilantin (phenytoin), Carbitrol (carbamazepine), Solfoton (phenobarbital), Lamictal (lamotrigine), Felbatol (felbamate), Zarontin (ethosuximide), Neurontin (gabapentin), Cerebyx (fosphenytoin), Mysoline (primidone), Topamax (topiramate), Gabitril (tiagabine), Keppra (levetiracetam), Trileptal (oxcarbazepine), and Zonegran (zonisamide).
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