Fall-related hospital admissions are rising as the population ages

Fall-related injuries, hospitalizations, and mortality among older persons represent a major public health problem.

According to a study from the Netherlands in the Archives of Internal Medicine, fall-related hospital admissions increased by 137%.  Although the incidence of fall-related hospital admissions increased, the total length of stay for fall-related hospital injuries was reduced by 20%.

(Sources: Patient Safety Monitor Alert, http://hcpro.com, May 26, 2010; Archives of Internal Medicine, http://archinte.ama-assn.org, May 24, 2010)