Together we are Stronger!

Collaborate with First Responders

be a part of the solution

Patti League RN

National Program Manager

A Matter of Balance

MaineHealth’s Partnership for Healthy Aging

First responders in your community

Fry Fire Department

A Matter of Balance Class

Contact Information

Patti League RN Program Manager

A Matter of Balance

leagup@mainehealth.org

Partnership for Healthy Aging

110 Free Street

Portland, ME 04101

207-661-7120

pfha@mainehealth.org

www.mainehealth.org/pfha

Reducing 911 Emergencies:

Working with First Responders to

Refer into Evidence-Based Falls

Prevention Programs

Christy Lau, Partners in Care Foundation

Mission

To shape the evolving health system by

developing and spreading high value

models of community-based care and

self management

Partners in Care Foundation

Falls Prevention Grantee Profile

• 2015-2017– 5 County Partners

– Evidence-Based Program (GOAL: 1,200 Participants, 960 Completers)• A Matter of Balance

– 1,600 Participants, 1,309 Completers

• 2017-2020– 7 County Partners

– Evidence-Based Programs (GOAL: 4,045 Participants, 3,234 Completers)• A Matter of Balance

• Tai Chi for Arthritis

• Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance

STEADI Case Study

• Examined three organizations that used EMS to

provide falls prevention interventions for a minimum

of 1 year – a small township, a county, and a state

• Why is STEADI a good intervention for working with

EMS?

• How can STEADI be integrated into existing EMS

protocols?

Lessons Learned

• Start slowly

• It is necessary to identify a champion within EMS

• Coalition building is helpful for developing referral

relationships across providers

• Support of the intervention is dependent on active

participation from ALL individuals involved

Engaging Fire Departments

• Where did we start?

– Right here!

–

• Prehospital Care Nurse provides continuing education to a

network of Fire Departments

Arcadia Fire Department

• Three trainings held to introduce the STEADI

intervention and MOB program to EMS staff

• Brochure developed for first responders to pass out

on lift assist calls to generate referrals

• Workshops held at Arcadia Recreation &

Community Services

Torrance Fire Department

• Citywide falls prevention initiative

• Project kicked off with a citywide Senior Safety Fair in September 2017

• High public interest generated – enough to fill four full MOB workshops

• Flyers and brochure developed to advertise classes

• Slowly shifting from a public health education model to a referral model with three local hospitals joining the initiative

Los Angeles Fire Department

• Community Risk Reduction Unit

• Provides education in the City of Los Angeles’ 16

senior centers

• Pilot

– July 2018

– Partners in Care will provide training to one fire

department to refer individuals in to three nearby MOB

workshops

– Collateral material to be developed

Common Challenges

• Electronic tracking of referrals

• Cost of collateral materials

• Need for collateral in other languages

• Different resources available in different

communities, including funding

More to Learn: Strategies for

Addressing Challenges

• Listen … If you’ve seen one fire department, you’ve seen ONE fire department

• Flexibility is our friend

• Define your metrics

• Start small

• Allow for scale

• Build infrastructure within the community … pilot to pay

Thank You!

Christy Ann Lau, MSSW

Program Director

clau@picf.org

(818) 837-3775, x159