Screening: Using the Algorithm
The algorithm can be initiated at one of two spots, marked by a large blue arrow; Either Opportunistic Screening or Fall Severity Screening.
Opportunistic Screening:
- If the patient passes Opportunistic Screening they are identified as being at Low Risk for falls.
- If the patient fails the Opportunistic Screening they progress the the Fall Severity Screening.
Skipping Opportunistic Screening:
If the recent medical history of the patient has already been collected, it is possible for Opportunistic Screening to be skipped and begin with Fall Severity Screening.
For example, if the nature of the appointment is to address a recent fall the patient experienced, it would be appropriate to skip Opportunistic Screening and rather begin with Fall Severity Screening.
Fall Severity Screening:
- If the patient passes Fall Severity Screening they will move to Mobility Screening.
- If the patient fails Fall Severity Screening they are identified as being at High Risk for falls and move to the Multifactorial Falls Risk Assessment.
Mobility Screening:
- If the patient passes the Mobility Screening they are identified as being at Low Risk for falls.
- If the patient fails the Mobility Screening they are identified as being at Intermediate Risk for falls.
Key Points
- The algorithm can start with either Opportunistic Screening or Fall Severity Screening, depending on the available information.
- Mobility Screening only happens if the patient has failed Opportunistic Screening, AND passed Fall Severity Screening.
Fall Risk Screening Checklist
The Fall Risk Screening Checklist is an excellent tool that can be used in practice to help guide health care professionals through the screening process. It can be found on page-1 of the document Fall Risk Screening and Interventions Checklist.
The Fall Risk Screening Checklist outlines Opportunistic, Fall Severity, and Mobility Screening and provides check-boxes beside each item of each screening type. This allows health care professionals to easily track a patient's responses and clearly identify if they have passed or failed each type of screening. Furthermore, the checklist outlines the next steps for patients who passed or failed each type of screening.
Please carefully read the entire checklist below:
English 
French 