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Problem statement
Falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults, yet fall-risk screening at the participating primary care clinic is inconsistent and rarely documented in a structured field. Without routine screening, patients who would benefit from exercise, medication review or home-safety referrals are not identified.
Project aim
Within 12 weeks, at least 80% of patients aged 65 and older seen for annual wellness visits will be screened for fall risk using the STEADI screening questions, with results documented in a structured electronic health record field.
Evidence and framework
The CDC's STEADI initiative provides a screen–assess–intervene approach and clinician tools for fall prevention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). The project uses an evidence-based practice framework to plan adoption, staff training and evaluation (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2023).
Implementation plan
- Build a structured STEADI screening field into the rooming workflow.
- Train medical assistants and nurses in a 30-minute session with practice scenarios.
- Run weekly audits and share screening rates at team huddles.
- Refer patients who screen positive for assessment and intervention per the STEADI algorithm.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). STEADI: Older adult fall prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/index.html
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2023). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice (5th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
