Eyeworld

10 Ophthalmology Business • December 2017 by Vanessa Caceres, Ophthalmology Business Contributing Writer Prevent falls at your practice 2015, 41 patients were involved. The numbers are not equal because some patients sued more than one person, she explained. Of the 41 patients, 31 were older than 60. Three of the patients died within the first year after falling. Almost all—40 of 41— had significant injuries, including fractures. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries for those age 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Twenty percent die in the first year after a fall, Dr. Menke reported. During her presentation, Dr. Menke presented data on four specific falls claims and revealed the outcome for each case. Here are some details and pearls from those cases. Slipping off a stool In the first case, an older woman slipped off a stool while waiting for an eye exam and fractured her spine. She never walked again, and she died 9 months after her fall. "For some el- derly patients, [a fall] is the absolute turning point," Dr. Menke said. As it turned out, the patient had significant medical problems and needed regular transfusions. The stool had wheels, and it was stated that no one helped her when she sat down. The case eventually settled for $60,000, a relatively small amount because the patient had fewer med- ical expenses due to her death, and most of her care was likely covered by Medicare. With this case, Dr. Menke prompted the audience to consider environmental factors that could increase the likelihood of a fall, in- cluding wet floors, poor lighting, and clogged hallways. These are in addi- tion to an older age, health problems, and the use of certain medications. safety manager, Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company (OMIC), San Francisco. Dr. Menke addressed falls during her presentation at the 2016 American Academy of Ophthalmolo- gy (AAO) annual meeting. Dr. Menke reviewed falls claims handled by OMIC, shared relevant data, and provided tips on how oph- thalmic practices can help patients avoid falls. The OMIC analysis found that while falls were only 1% of total OMIC claims, company leaders know that many more falls have occurred at practices without any legal claim involved, she said. Of the 50 claims in her analysis between 1987 and Falls are a small percentage of legal claims but can lead to significant injuries, dissatisfaction P atient falls at your office may not be fore- most on your mind, but there are good reasons to think about how to prevent them. Falls are more common in older patients and those with significant health issues or a history of falls. That probably sounds like a lot of the patients you see every day, said Anne Menke, RN, PhD, patient

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