Oct-2009 Neal Alpiner, M.D., renowned Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist in metropolitan Detroit, has joined FPCA as National Director of Rehabilitation. Dr. Alpiner will be in charge of rehab program development, as well as writing articles for our physician and patient-based websites. Dr. Alpiner brings his extensive research and treatment background with pediatric and adult traumatic brain injury mobility rehabilitation to FPCA. Welcome Neal!!!
Neal Alpiner, M.D.
Oct-2009 Heartland Rehabilitation Services, a division of HCR ManorCare, has teamed with FPCA to provide dizziness and balance rehabilitation services in Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Kentucky, New Jersey and Michigan. Heartland is currently providing extensive FPCA training to all of its outpatient centers to meet the physician demand for falls prevention programs. Stay tuned as we announce specific cities and contact information for each state.
“Safety of Seniors Act of 2008” April 23, 2008President Bush signed the “Safety of Seniors Act of 2008” - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) oversee and support a national education campaign focusing on reducing falls among older adults and preventing repeat falls; and (2) award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to design and carry out local education campaigns. Allows the Secretary to conduct and support research to: (1) improve the identification of older adults who have a high risk of falling; (2) improve data collection and analysis to identify fall risk and protective factors; (3) design, implement, and evaluate the most effective fall prevention interventions; (4) tailor effective strategies to reduce falls to specific populations of older adults; (5) maximize the dissemination of proven, effective fall prevention interventions; (6) improve the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of elderly fall victims and older adults at high risk for falls; and (7) assess the risks of falls occurring in various settings.
Seniors’ Mortality Rates From Falling Injuries Increase
$19 billion spent annually on treating these cases.
Medical and eldercare policy groups are putting pressure on Congress to fund falls prevention programs. Twenty-two groups, including the National Association for Home Care & Hospice, are calling on Congress to spend $20 million on falls prevention under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
About ‘1.8 million older adults were treated in emergency departments for injuries from falls, 433,000 were hospitalized and nearly 16,000 died,’ the coalition says in a release. ‘CDC reports the mortality rate from falls among older Americans has increased 39 percent between 1999 and 2005.’
According to the CDC, more than $19 billion annually is spent on treating the elderly for the adverse effects of falls, the coalition says.
Oct. 1, 2009: GRANT AWARDED TO FALL PREVENTION CLINICS…
For the 3rd year in a row, The Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging, part of the U.S. Area Agency on Aging, has awarded its first ever contract to a “for profit” medical practice which specializes in diagnosis and treatment of dizziness and balance disorders among seniors.
As part of the Agency’s Title IIID Home Injury Control Program, Fall Prevention Clinics of America will coordinate with county health departments to provide medical evaluation, assessment and intervention for seniors in northern Illinois who have indicated a history of falls, injury from a fall or a fear of falling.
For more information on the program, contact Fall Prevention Clinics of America at (630) 305-0403.
April 2009: AMERICAN GERIATRIC SOCIETY
Fall Prevention Clinics of America, and our strategic partner Otometrics USA, presented "Falls Risk Assessment Solutions for Primary Care" at The Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Geriatric Society in Chicago.
The Physician Diagnostic Network, which provides primary care physicians with a turnkey, in-office, diagnostic suite for patients presenting with balance or dizziness issues,received a buzz of activity and interest from the nation's leading geriatrics physicians. For more information on the Physician Diagnostic Network, click here.
September 2009: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
For the second year in a row, Fall Prevention Clinics of America has been selected to join the panel of educators for the University of Illinois-Department of Family Medicine..."Multi-Disciplinary Certificate Program in Geriatrics for Non-Physicians".
In that role, they will provide education on fall risk identification and intervention in the senior population. The audience includes clinical professionals such as, PT, OT, RN, LCSW and facility executive administration. “We are honored with the recognition and continue to improve on our practice and reputation for excellence” stated Michael Bearce, Executive Director of Fall Prevention Clinics.
Fall Prevention Clinics of America is a registered trademark of Orchard and Carlyle II, LLC company; an Illinois corporation.
