Table 2.

Home care providers’ information needs for managing and reducing the risk of falls.

Domain	Information Needs
Physiological	Previous history of falls Functional status Difficulties with walking and balance Musculoskeletal disorders (e.g. Osteoporosis) Vestibular disorders Vision problems Cognitive impairments Neurological problems (e.g. Parkinson’s disease) Acute conditions (e.g. Orthostatic hypotension) Chronic conditions (e.g. Diabetes) Nutritional problems
Care Delivery	Brief medical history (i.e. summary of recent encounters) Hospital discharge information, including: Reason for hospital admission Major events during hospital stay Medications affecting balance (e.g. drugs for hypertension) Rehab and therapy notes (i.e. therapy prognosis) Durable Medical Equipment (DME) prescribed and order status Concise home care orders, including: Specific fall risk management goals Expected outcomes of fall risk reduction interventions Weight-bearing status (if indicated) Assessments (e.g. Functional Gait Assessment) HHA fall risk management procedures
Educational	Patient education level Patient comprehension Information on medications’ effects on balance Information on condition/disease’s effects on balance Treatment options and their fall risks
Social	Patient psychosocial state Patient culture, customs, and religion Patient values and preferences specific to fall interventions Socioeconomic status Language and interpretation needs Caregiver availability
Environmental	Broken/uneven steps and surfaces Throwrugs and clutter Absence of handrails
Administrative	Patient demographics Patient phone and address Next of kin and caregiver contact information Insurance and coverage information Scheduling and appointment changes