Work

From framework to frontline: Embedding enterprise risk management into emergency department fall prevention

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This letter to the editor responds to Bailey and Delchamps' recent article on integrating enterprise risk management (ERM) in fall-related injury prevention. We extend their framework to emergency departments (EDs), emphasizing the strategic advantage of initiating individualized fall risk assessment at the point of triage. Many high-risk indicators-such as anticoagulant use and cognitive impairment-are already accessible in ED settings and can be embedded into machine learning-supported tools like the Rothman index or fall triage score. We also highlight the financial implications of fall-related injuries originating in or near the ED, noting their potential to increase hospital length of stay and trigger non-reimbursable costs. The authors' inclusion of risk matrices and heat maps presents scalable opportunities for safety prioritization in dynamic ED environments. We conclude by recommending prospective validation of ERM-based approaches within level 1 trauma centers and invite collaboration to test the framework's effectiveness in real-world emergency settings.

Source: Journal of Healthcare Risk Management

DOI: 10.1002/jhrm.70012

Authors: Yalcin Golcuk, Ömer Faruk Karakoyun

Institution: Muğla University

Language: English

Topic: Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention

Subfield: Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,470