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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;
18 ▸ encourages the workgroup to consider certain issues; and
19 ▸ encourages the workgroup to report its recommendations to the Legislature before
20 October 1, 2017.
21 Special Clauses:
22 None
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24 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25 WHEREAS, in 2014, Utahns were hospitalized 5,300 times for the treatment of
26 fall-related injuries;
27 WHEREAS, in 2014, more than $186 million was spent on treating Utahns for
28 fall-related injuries;
29 WHEREAS, from 2013 to 2015, 655 Utahns died as the result of fall-related injuries;
30 WHEREAS, more than 76% of fall-related deaths and more than 61% of fall-related
31 hospitalizations are among individuals 65 years of age or older;
32 WHEREAS, the risk of death from fall-related injuries increases exponentially with
33 age; and
34 WHEREAS, individuals 65 years of age or older are many times more likely to die
35 from injuries related to falls than injuries related to traffic accidents, firearms, or other causes
36 of unintentional injury:
37 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
38 encourages the Department of Health to convene a multi-stakeholder workgroup to develop
39 recommendations for reducing fall-related injuries among Utahns.
40 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the workgroup include the department's fall
41 prevention specialist, an individual representing the elderly, an individual representing local
42 health departments, an individual representing Utah physicians, an individual representing
43 Utah emergency medical service providers, an individual representing Utah hospitals, an
44 individual representing the Utah Health Information Network, an individual with expertise in
45 the electronic exchange of clinical health information, and, as appropriate, others.
46 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah encourages the
47 workgroup to consider:
48 (a) how to promote the identification of individuals at risk of fall-related injuries and
49 the delivery of risk-reduction interventions;
50 (b) how to promote the use of fall-risk assessments by primary care physicians and
51 other medical practitioners who interact with persons at risk of fall-related injuries;
52 (c) whether a primary care physician should be notified for appropriate follow-up when
53 a patient of the physician is treated in a hospital emergency department or other emergency or
54 urgent care setting for a fall-related injury;
55 (d) how to increase the availability of funding for home modifications designed to
56 reduce the risk of fall-related injuries; and
57 (e) how to sustain efforts to reduce fall-related injuries in the state if federal funding
58 for the efforts is reduced or eliminated.
59 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah encourages the
60 workgroup to report its recommendations to the Health and Human Services Interim
61 Committee before October 1, 2017.
62 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Department
63 of Health.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel