2
3
4
5
6
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This joint resolution of the Legislature encourages the Department of Health to convene
11 a multi-stakeholder workgroup to develop recommendations for reducing fall-related
12 injuries among Utahns.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 ▸ sets forth the impacts of fall-related injuries among Utahns;
16 ▸ encourages the Department of Health to convene a multi-stakeholder workgroup to
17 develop recommendations for reducing fall-related injuries among Utahns; and
18 ▸ encourages the workgroup to consider certain issues.
19 Special Clauses:
20 None
21
22 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23 WHEREAS, in 2014, Utahns were hospitalized 5,300 times for the treatment of
24 fall-related injuries;
25 WHEREAS, in 2014, more than $186 million was spent on treating Utahns for
26 fall-related injuries;
27 WHEREAS, from 2013 to 2015, 655 Utahns died as the result of fall-related injuries;
28 WHEREAS, more than 76% of fall-related deaths and more than 61% of fall-related
29 hospitalizations are among individuals 65 years of age or older;
30 WHEREAS, the risk of death from fall-related injuries increases exponentially with
31 age; and
32 WHEREAS, individuals 65 years of age or older are many times more likely to die
33 from injuries related to falls than injuries related to traffic accidents, firearms, or other causes
34 of unintentional injury:
35 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
36 encourages the Department of Health to convene a multi-stakeholder workgroup to develop
37 recommendations for reducing fall-related injuries among Utahns.
38 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the workgroup include the department's fall
39 prevention specialist, an individual representing the elderly, an individual representing local
40 health departments, an individual representing Utah physicians, an individual representing
41 Utah emergency medical service providers, an individual representing Utah hospitals, an
42 individual representing the Utah Health Information Network, an individual with expertise in
43 the electronic exchange of clinical health information, and, as appropriate, others.
44 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah encourages the
45 workgroup to consider:
46 (a) how to promote the identification of individuals at risk of fall-related injuries and
47 the delivery of risk-reduction interventions;
48 (b) how to promote the use of fall-risk assessments by primary care physicians and
49 other medical practitioners who interact with persons at risk of fall-related injuries;
50 (c) whether a primary care physician should be notified for appropriate follow-up when
51 a patient of the physician is treated in a hospital emergency department or other emergency or
52 urgent care setting for a fall-related injury;
53 (d) how to increase the availability of funding for home modifications designed to
54 reduce the risk of fall-related injuries; and
55 (e) how to sustain efforts to reduce fall-related injuries in the state if federal funding
56 for the efforts is reduced or eliminated.
57 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Department
58 of Health.