This scoping review included 9 articles examining emergency department (ED) transfers after long-term care (LTC) resident falls. The average discharge rate from the ED back to LTC communties without a hospitalization was 63%, and brain scan findings, when reported, were not significantly influential in making discharge decisions. The findings highlight the importance of implementing geriatric-specific and person-centered protocols to reduce unnecessary ED transfers after falls.
Emergency Department Discharges Following Falls in Residential Aged Care Residents: A Scoping Review
This scoping review included 9 articles examining emergency department (ED) transfers after long-term care (LTC) resident falls. The average discharge rate from the ED back to LTC communties without a hospitalization was 63%, and brain scan findings, when reported, were not significantly influential in making discharge decisions. The findings highlight the importance of implementing geriatric-specific and person-centered protocols to reduce unnecessary ED transfers after falls.
