Falls-RiskNCT05846685
Patient Perspectives of an Automated Falls-Risk Screening and Referral Tool in the Emergency Department (ED)
An observational study of Falls-Risk, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 3 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of the overall study to evaluate implementation-related outcomes of a falls-risk clinical decision support (CDS) system using patient electronic health records (EHR) data to automatically screen and identify older adult ED patients at high risk of future falls and allowing ED clinicians to place referral… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Falls-Risk
- What is being tested?
- Patient Phone Interviews and Patient In Person Interviews
- How many people
- 10 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 22 Feb 2022to 28 Feb 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Older adult
Study population: ED patients age 65 or older
Who may be able to join
- ED patients identified by the automated system as being high-risk of future falls, and subsequently referred to the UW Health Mobility and Falls Clinic by the ED provider at discharge.
- English-speaking
- Reliable access to a working telephone and can accept incoming phone calls
- For In-person interviews in the ED:
- ED patients age 65 and older in the emergency department for any reason who are identified as likely to be discharged by their clinical team.
Who cannot join
- Incarcerated or in police custody
- Lacks capacity to consent
- Unable to hear or speak on the telephone, even with the use of assistive devices
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country.
United States3 sites
The American Center Emergency Department
Madison, Wisconsin, 53718
UWHC Emergency Department
Madison, Wisconsin, 53792
Swedish American Emergency Department
Rockford, Illinois, 61008
About this study
Official title: Preventing Future Falls in Older Adult ED Patients: Evaluating the Implementation and Effectiveness of a Novel Automated Screening and Referral Intervention - Patient Perspectives
The purpose of the overall study to evaluate implementation-related outcomes of a falls-risk clinical decision support (CDS) system using patient electronic health records (EHR) data to automatically screen and identify older adult ED patients at high risk of future falls and allowing ED clinicians to place referral orders to the UW Health Mobility and Falls clinic. This CDS tool has already been implemented at the UWHC ED, and will be additionally implemented at The American Center and Swedish American Hospital EDs (all QI initiatives) over the next two years. This study involves engaging a sample of referred patients from each site to gather their perspectives on the delivery of the referral in the ED, their experiences in making and completing appointments at the Falls Clinic (if applicable), and perceived benefits of the intervention overall.
Read the detailed description
The aim of this study is to assess perceptions and implementation-related outcomes for the automated screening and referral tool based upon the experiences of older adult patients receiving the referral (or who could be eligible for the referral) at each of the three ED sites, including identifying reasons why some referred patients do not schedule or attend appointments as a result of the referral order.
Phone interviews will be conducted with a minimum of 12 referred patients per each of the 3 ED sites, approximately half of whom scheduled and completed a Falls Clinic visit, and half whom declined or did not complete an appointment. Interview questions include a mix of verbally-delivered Likert-type rating scales and open-ended questions evaluating their experience of the referral process (e.g., verbal communication, written information received), appropriateness of the CDS screening tool, and perceived value of the intervention for preventing falls.
Additionally, in person interviews will be conducted with a minimum of 10 patients each at the American Center and Swedish American Hospital sites prior to implementation of the intervention at these sites. These will be conducted among patients aged 65 and older who are in the emergency department and likely to be discharged. These interviews will be aimed at collecting patient input necessary to adapt the design of the intervention at these sites. Interview questions will include open-ended questions evaluating the perceived value of the the intervention for preventing falls as well as potential barriers and facilitators to completing the intervention at these sites. Interviews will be conducted by ED staff trained and experienced in research data collection in the ED to minimize interruption of clinical workflows. In consultation with provider teams, interviewers will time interviews to avoid clinical interventions, and will pause research activities while any clinical care is taking place.
- Conditions
- Falls-Risk
- Being tested
- Patient Phone Interviews, Patient In Person Interviews
- Keywords
- Machine Learning, Computer Decision Support, Human Factors Engineering, Qualitative Analysis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Patient Phone InterviewsOther
Collecting perceptions about automated falls-risk screening and referral tool
Patient In Person InterviewsOther
Interviews will be aimed at collecting patient input necessary to adapt the design of the intervention at these sites.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| ED Patients Scheduled and Completed Falls Clinic Visit | Patients age 65 and Older identified by the automated system as being high-risk of future falls, and subsequently referred to the UW Health Mobility and Falls Clinic by the ED provider at discharge Receives: Other: Patient Phone Interviews | |
| ED Patients Declined or Did Not Complete Falls Clinic Visit | Patients age 65 and Older identified by the automated system as being high-risk of future falls, and subsequently referred to the UW Health Mobility and Falls Clinic by the ED provider at discharge Receives: Other: Patient Phone Interviews | |
| ED Patients Likely to be Discharged | Patients aged 65 and older who are in the emergency department and likely to be discharged. Receives: Other: Patient In Person Interviews |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Qualitative Measure to Summarize Reasons Patients Did Not Schedule or Attend Appointments Based on Referral
Participant responses will be coded to identify themes. Participant counts will be reported.
Measured: up to 30 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 May 2023
- Study start22 Feb 2022
- Primary completion28 Feb 2026
- Study completion28 Feb 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Falls-RiskStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Wisconsin, MadisonThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Brian W Patterson, MD, MPH, Principal investigator, University of Wisconsin, Madison
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05846685
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2021-0744
- Other IDs
- 1K08HS024558, 1R18HS027735, SMPH/EMERG MED
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Apr 2023
- Last updated
- 5 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Preventing Future Falls in Older Adult ED Patients: Evaluating the Implementation and Effectiveness of a Novel Automated Screening and Referral Intervention - Patient Perspectives
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05846685
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2021-0744
- Conditions
- Falls-Risk
- Keywords
- Machine Learning, Computer Decision Support, Human Factors Engineering, Qualitative Analysis
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, MadisonUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- Study start
- 22 Feb 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 28 Feb 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 May 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of the overall study to evaluate implementation-related outcomes of a falls-risk clinical decision support (CDS) system using patient electronic health records (EHR) data to automatically screen and identify older adult ED patients at high risk of future falls and allowing ED clinicians to place referral orders to the UW Health Mobility and Falls clinic. This CDS tool has already been implemented at the UWHC ED, and will be additionally implemented at The American Center and Swedish American Hospital EDs (all QI initiatives) over the next two years. This study involves engaging a sample of referred patients from each site to gather their perspectives on the delivery of the referral in the ED, their experiences in making and completing appointments at the Falls Clinic (if applicable), and perceived benefits of the intervention overall.
Detailed description
The aim of this study is to assess perceptions and implementation-related outcomes for the automated screening and referral tool based upon the experiences of older adult patients receiving the referral (or who could be eligible for the referral) at each of the three ED sites, including identifying reasons why some referred patients do not schedule or attend appointments as a result of the referral order.
Phone interviews will be conducted with a minimum of 12 referred patients per each of the 3 ED sites, approximately half of whom scheduled and completed a Falls Clinic visit, and half whom declined or did not complete an appointment. Interview questions include a mix of verbally-delivered Likert-type rating scales and open-ended questions evaluating their experience of the referral process (e.g., verbal communication, written information received), appropriateness of the CDS screening tool, and perceived value of the intervention for preventing falls.
Additionally, in person interviews will be conducted with a minimum of 10 patients each at the American Center and Swedish American Hospital sites prior to implementation of the intervention at these sites. These will be conducted among patients aged 65 and older who are in the emergency department and likely to be discharged. These interviews will be aimed at collecting patient input necessary to adapt the design of the intervention at these sites. Interview questions will include open-ended questions evaluating the perceived value of the the intervention for preventing falls as well as potential barriers and facilitators to completing the intervention at these sites. Interviews will be conducted by ED staff trained and experienced in research data collection in the ED to minimize interruption of clinical workflows. In consultation with provider teams, interviewers will time interviews to avoid clinical interventions, and will pause research activities while any clinical care is taking place.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| ED Patients Scheduled and Completed Falls Clinic Visit | – | Other: Patient Phone InterviewsPatients age 65 and Older identified by the automated system as being high-risk of future falls, and subsequently referred to the UW Health Mobility and Falls Clinic by the ED provider at discharge |
| ED Patients Declined or Did Not Complete Falls Clinic Visit | – | Other: Patient Phone InterviewsPatients age 65 and Older identified by the automated system as being high-risk of future falls, and subsequently referred to the UW Health Mobility and Falls Clinic by the ED provider at discharge |
| ED Patients Likely to be Discharged | – | Other: Patient In Person InterviewsPatients aged 65 and older who are in the emergency department and likely to be discharged. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
- Study population
- ED patients age 65 or older
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- ED patients identified by the automated system as being high-risk of future falls, and subsequently referred to the UW Health Mobility and Falls Clinic by the ED provider at discharge.
- English-speaking
- Reliable access to a working telephone and can accept incoming phone calls
- For In-person interviews in the ED:
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Incarcerated or in police custody
- Lacks capacity to consent
- Unable to hear or speak on the telephone, even with the use of assistive devices
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Phone InterviewsCollecting perceptions about automated falls-risk screening and referral tool | Other | ED Patients Declined or Did Not Complete Falls Clinic Visit, ED Patients Scheduled and Completed Falls Clinic Visit |
| Patient In Person InterviewsInterviews will be aimed at collecting patient input necessary to adapt the design of the intervention at these sites. | Other | ED Patients Likely to be Discharged |
Primary outcome
Qualitative Measure to Summarize Reasons Patients Did Not Schedule or Attend Appointments Based on Referral
Time frame: up to 30 months
Participant responses will be coded to identify themes. Participant counts will be reported.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Brian W Patterson, MD, MPH principal investigator
University of Wisconsin, Madison
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Falls-Risk, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 3 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 3 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Qualitative Measure to Summarize Reasons Patients Did Not Schedule or Attend Appointments Based on Referral (time frame: up to 30 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jun 2026.