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Table 1 Iterative Changes throughout the Program

From: Formative evaluation of the telecare fall prevention project for older veterans

Date

Change

 

Successfully Implemented

December 2008

Inclusion of falls-related patient education materials in the Telecare Tuck-In nurse's script

If the patient indicated that the materials were desired, the Patient Education Resource Center coordinator would mail out a packet of materials specifically selected by the falls workgroup developed for this project, with a cover letter (see Additional File 5)[23–26].

December 2008

Inclusion of a check-box for fall prevention in the electronic Telecare-Tuck-In consult

Before this, healthcare professionals had to specifically request a fall prevention referral using free text in the electronic consult form.

August 2009

Telecare Tuck-In nurses began reading the falls script to some patients who were called for post-operative check-ins

This is a separate service the Telecare Tuck-In program provides.

 

Not Fully Implemented

October 2008 through January 2009

Two initiatives for patient referrals were developed and vetted by the workgroup, but they were never fully implemented

• Social work service: they requested that only medical providers actually order the referrals, even if the social worker identified the patient as being at risk.

• Emergency Department: although one of us briefed the Emergency Department physicians on the program and one or two test referrals were made, we had difficulty sustaining interest in the program.