ALERT-EDEmergency Department Patients At-Risk Awareness & Resources Linkage Program

Falls are a major cause of injuries in older adults, often leading to repeated visits to the emergency department. Many older adults are not aware of fall prevention resources that can help reduce their risk of falls by up to 30%. Currently, patients at UCHealth emergency departments are screened for fall risk, but they rarely learn about their results or get directed to helpful resources. This study introduces ALERT-ED, a program designed to automatically notify patients of their fall risk screening results and refer them to nearby fall prevention programs. If successful, this could significantly improve patient health by making it easier for them to access necessary resources, and the approach could be applied to other health concerns such as transplant care or cancer. Participants in this study will receive an automated message about their risk of falls as soon as they arrive at the emergency department. This message will also include a referral to local fall prevention programs, which are based on proven methods to help reduce the occurrence of falls. The study will evaluate how effective this notification and referral system is in connecting patients with the resources they need. By making this process automated, it aims to ensure that more patients are informed about their health and can take action to prevent future falls, ultimately improving their quality of life.