title: Programs and Place: Risk and Asset Mapping for Fall Prevention.
abstract: Identifying ways to measure access, availability, and utilization of health-care services, relative to at-risk areas or populations, is critical in providing practical and actionable information to key stakeholders. This study identified the prevalence and geospatial distribution of fall-related emergency medical services (EMS) calls in relation to the delivery of an evidence-based fall prevention program in Tarrant County, Texas over a 3-year time period. It aims to educate public health professionals and EMS first respondents about the application of geographic information system programs to identify risk-related "hot spots," service gaps, and community assets to reduce falls among older adults. On average, 96.09 (±108.65) calls were received per ZIP Code (ranging from 0 calls to 386 calls). On average, EMS calls per ZIP Code increased from 30.80 (±34.70) calls in 2009 to 33.75 (±39.58) calls in 2011, which indicate a modest annual call increase over the 3-year study period. The percent of ZIP Codes offering A Matter of Balance/Volunteer Lay Leader Model (AMOB/VLL) workshops increased from 27.3% in 2009 to 34.5% in 2011. On average, AMOB/VLL workshops were offered in ZIP Codes with more fall-related EMS calls over the 3-year study period. Findings suggest that the study community was providing evidence-based fall prevention programming (AMOB/VLL workshops) in higher-risk areas. Opportunities for strategic service expansion were revealed through the identification of fall-related hot spots and asset mapping.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, College of Public Health, Institute of Gerontology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew Lee
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University , College Station, TX , USA.
authors.forename: Samuel D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Towne
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Community Psychiatry Program , Baltimore, MD , USA.
authors.forename: Audry S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Motlagh
authors.affiliation: United Way of Tarrant County , Fort Worth, TX , USA.
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Clarkson University , Potsdam, NY , USA.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boolani
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University , College Station, TX , USA.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Horel
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University , College Station, TX , USA.
authors.forename: Marcia G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ory
keywords: asset mapping; fall prevention; older adults; risk assessment; strategic planning