CEMFIA
"I am pleased to write in support of the CEMFIA's extraordinary contributions to fall prevention in BC. Your work has not only advanced the science of fall prevention but given the movement around the world exemplary strategies for disseminating evidence-based practices in the community. CDC considers the work done in BC some of the most advanced in the world, and it has been critical to our own planning for fall prevention in the US...BC is certainly well ahead of the US in developing systems for nationwide adoption of effective fall prevention programs."
David A Sleet, PhD
Associate Director for Science, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
1. CEMFIA Mandate
The Centre of Excellence on Mobility, Fall Prevention and Injury in Aging (CEMFIA) represents a unique collaborative of researchers, health care providers and policy makers with a shared goal of improving the health and safety of older British Columbians. The Centre was established in April 2009 within the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility (CHHM) situated at the Vancouver General Hospital campus. The CEMFIA mandate is to enhance mobility and reduce the risk for falls and fall-related injuries among older British Columbians, in partnership with the BC Fall and Injury Prevention Coalition, the CHHM, the BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit, University partners, and other fall prevention stakeholders in British Columbia.
2. Who we are:
CEMFIA represents a collaborative of key stakeholders including:
- BC Fall and Injury Prevention Coalition: a multisectoral alliance of individuals representing regional health authorities, the policy makers at all levels of government, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, professional associations, and First Nations and community agencies who are concerned about the need to reduce falls and fall-related injuries among older persons in British Columbia;
- University and Clinical partners: from all BC Universities, including over 100 scientists and clinicians within the CHHM and BCIRPU; these investigators have national and international prominence to improve the mobility of Canadians. Specifically, CHHM research aims to prevent, and treat limitations to mobility including fall-related injuries;
- Community Partners: representatives from community organizations and private businesses who are working with older persons to enhance mobility and reduce the risk of falls and related injuries among older British Columbians.
3. Key activities of CEMFIA
As shown in the following figure, key activities of CEMFIA are to provide education and awareness opportunities; generate innovations in risk assessment, proven prevention strategies and new technologies; conduct environmental scans of current research and clinical needs; report on epidemiology and economic burden of injury outcomes; and facilitate the translation of knowledge to improve the health of aging British Columbians.
4. Residential Care Summit: Fall & Injury Prevention Research into Action - Key CEMFIA Event for 2009:
The Residential Care Summit: "Fall & Injury Prevention Research to Action," held on Nov. 5-6 in Victoria, was a great success. It brought together residential care fall prevention stakeholders from across BC and Canada. The Summit Proceedings Report, which will include a Residential Care Fall Prevention Toolkit, will be released this winter. These will help residential care operators, care providers, policy makers and other stakeholders adapt to the new fall prevention legislation that recently came into effect in BC and Canada.
To listen to the audio clips from the Summit, click on the links below:
- Introduction to the Summit - Matt Herman, Director of Injury Prevention and Built Environment, Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport
- Residential Care Summit: Fall & Injury Prevention Research to Action - Dr. Vicky Scott, Director of CEMFIA and Senior Advisor on Fall and Injury Prevention in BC (Intro) - (Part 1) - (Part 2) - (See below for link to Powerpoint presentation)
- Keynote presentation: Fall Prevention in Residential Care-Dr. Kilian Rapp, Research Fellow, Ulm University and Robert-Bosch Hospital Stuttgart (Part 1) - (Part 2) - (See below for link to Powerpoint presentation)
Please see below for links to presentations by speakers at the Summit:
Keynote presentation
- "Fall Prevention in Residential Care" by Kilian Rapp
Plenary Speaker presentations
- "Residential Care Summit: Fall & Injury Prevention Research to Action" by Vicky Scott
- "Risk Factors for Falls in Residential Care: Evidence from RAI MDS 2.0 Assessment Data" by Jeff Poss
- "Assessment of Mobility: The Fifth Vital Sign" by Janet McElhaney
Concurrent Speaker presentations
- "Care Planning with the MDS 2.0: Falls and More" by Jeff Poss
- "Fall Related Hospitalizations in Seniors" by Brandon Wagar
- "Joint Venture: A Collaborative Approach to Fall and Injury Prevention in Residential Care" by Ming Leung
- "Quality Improvement in Long-Term Care: Improving Resident Safety" by Heather McConnell
- "Feasibility of Compliant Flooring for Fracture Prevention in High-Risk Environments: Effects on Fall Severity, Mobility, and Balance in Older Adults" by Stephen Robinovitch
- "Pelvic Fractures in Institutionalized Elderly People: Excess Mortality and Potential Implications" by Kilian Rapp
- "Bringing the Pieces Together: The Residential Care Least Restraint Puzzle" by Dixie Butts
- "Residential Care Regulation: Supporting Fall Prevention in Residential Care" by Melanie Golder
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"Evaluating a Fall Prevention Program: Adapted from the Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum" by Vicky Scott
Rapid Fire Session Presentations
- "Nova Scotia Falls Prevention Network" by Suzanne Baker
- "Practical Innovation in Fall Prevention" by Janusz Kaleta
- "From the BEEEACHs of Prince Rupert" by Karen Skarpnes
- "Focus on the Resident: Preventing Falls: A Case Study" by Adrien Vaughan
5. For more information on CEMFIA
See CEMFIA Overview
6. Annoucements
***Mark your calendars for March 22 & 23, 2010 to join us in Vancouver, BC for the first Canadian Fall Prevention Conference: Transforming Knowledge to Action. Further updates and registration information to follow.
In conjunction with this year's Seniors' Fall Prevention Week in BC (November 2-8, 2010) and the CEMFIA Residential Care Summit, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) has produced a NEW brochure: Fall-Related Hospitalizations in Seniors: Canada and B.C., 2007-2008.
