Using telehealth to prevent falls in older adults visiting the emergency department
e-GAPcare: Expanding the Reach of a Fall Prevention Intervention for Older Adult Emergency Department Patients through Telehealth
This study is testing a new way to help older adults avoid falls by using telehealth, so they can get advice from pharmacists and physical therapists right from home, especially if they live in smaller towns where these services are hard to find.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11035757 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research aims to expand a successful fall prevention program for older adults by using telehealth technology. The program, known as GAPcare, has shown promising results in reducing fall-related emergency department visits. By adapting this intervention for telehealth, the researchers hope to provide necessary consultations from pharmacists and physical therapists to older patients who may not have access to these services in smaller or rural emergency departments. The study will assess the feasibility of implementing this telehealth approach in a community emergency department setting.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who have experienced falls or are at risk of falling and seek care in emergency departments.
Not a fit: Patients who are not older adults or those who do not have a history of falls may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the number of fall-related emergency department visits among older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has successfully implemented telehealth for specialist evaluations in emergency departments, indicating potential for this approach.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goldberg, Elizabeth — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Goldberg, Elizabeth
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.