Fall-Related Emergency Department Traumas at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital: A Retrospective Analysis of Elderly Adult Trends

Authors

Mark Lyons, MPHc, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Albert Crawford, PhD, MBA, MSIS, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Nora Kramer, MSN, RN, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

6-22-2018

Comments

Presentation: 5:27

Abstract

Falls are the most common reason for non-fatal injuries treated at Emergency Departments (EDs) in the United States (US), excluding those ages 15-24. Pennsylvania (PA) spends $2.7 billion treating fall-related injuries yearly, with an average per-hospitalization cost of $58,529. PA also has the 5^th highest state senior population, and Philadelphia has the 5^th oldest senior population among the major American cities. Examining the 2016 Thomas Jefferson University (TJU) ED trauma database, we analysed fall-related traumas in adults ages 65 and over. The sample was stratified into 3 age groups (65-74, 75-84, and ³85) and SAS 9.4 was used to investigate age group trends for fall type, average length of stay (LOS), post-ED destination, loss of consciousness (LOC), incidents by month, and if LOC impacted patient LOS. We found a significant association between LOC and LOS, with those experiencing an LOC staying in hospital an average of 1.7 days. We did not observe significant differences across age groups for fall type, length of stay, post-ED destination, LOC, or number of incidents by month. While results are not significant they are suggestive and may reveal patients being more likely to experience a simple fall (defined as a fall without a slip or trip) as age increases, and less likely to experience a fall with a trip as age increases. All patients, regardless of age group, have average LOS of approximately 7 days. Analysis of our study sample (n=400) describes trends in elderly adult fall-related trauma patients at the TJU ED. We observed that LOC due to a fall is associated with an increased LOS, and for several utilization comparisons there are no significant differences between age groups. This study helps to better understand the patients we serve and identify trends in utilization that may contribute to ongoing fall-prevention efforts at TJU.

Recommended Citation

Lyons, MPHc, Mark; Crawford, PhD, MBA, MSIS, Albert; and Kramer, MSN, RN, Nora, "Fall-Related Emergency Department Traumas at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital: A Retrospective Analysis of Elderly Adult Trends" (2018). Master of Public Health Capstone Presentations. Presentation 258.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/mphcapstone_presentation/258

Language

English