title: Experience of a falls and injuries risk assessment clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the first 2 years of operation of a specialist Falls Clinic providing assessment of falls risk and individual preventive interventions in a public hospital setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Drawing from the available falls prevention evidence, a multidisciplinary Falls Clinic involving specialist medical assessment, physiotherapy assessment and treatment was established.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 2 years, 386 patients were seen in the clinic with the majority referred by a GP. The most frequent intervention for patients was referral to a Falls Education Program run by allied health staff at the hospital. Patients attending balance and exercise classes through this program showed significant improvement in physiotherapy test scores, reducing their risk of falls. The detection and treatment of osteoporosis was another important outcome for older persons attending the clinic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Falls Clinic provides access to evidence-based strategies for patients. Waiting lists for the clinic have increased dramatically since its inception. Ideally many of the interventions should be available in the primary care setting to increase access for those in the community at risk of falls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation and Aged Care, Flinders University, Daw Park, SA.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Birks
authors.forename: Craig H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crotty
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention; D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013021:South Australia