In healthcare, collaboration yields impactful and positive results. The collaboration between the private sector, healthcare systems, and societal organizations is important when discussing public health issues and innovative change. Regarding falls among the geriatric population and the negative impacts on their health, it is significant to implement tailored fall prevention measures to reduce fall rates, prevent falls from recurring, and promote quality health. To accomplish this aforementioned mitigative steps, important stakeholders should be encouraged to participate in the innovative process (Bekkers, & Tummers, 2018). One of these stakeholders is the private sector which is often involved in healthcare as a result of various activities that are executed by non-state actors, including non-profit organizations, multinational companies, private individuals (general practitioners and consultants), and nongovernment organizations (Hallo De Wolf, & Toebes, 2016).
Various non-profit organizations in the United States focus on fall prevention among the geriatric population, and one of them is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This organization promotes fall prevention through its STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, & Injuries) program. Their focus is on screening patients for falls, assessing modifiable risk factors of falls, and reducing fall risks by implementing effective fall prevention measures (CDC, 2016). By doing this, there would be a reduction in rate of falls, reduced Medicare expenditures related to falls, and improved health outcomes. Although in Arizona, only a few private sector organizations focus on elderly falls. However, there is a public sector organization known as Arizona Department of Health Services(AZDHS) that address elderly falls, and they promote fall prevention among older adults through Arizona Falls Prevention Coalition. The impacts of private sectors can influence public advancement through their collaboration with other organizations to implement fall prevention measures.
Additionally, different types of private sector involvement in healthcare make it possible to provide care for the public through various actors, and the geriatric population benefits from them. Payers are often involved through private health insurance companies and different charity organizations, healthcare providers are involved through private hospitals and clinics, private doctors and nurses, charities and civil society organization; and suppliers are involved through pharmaceutical companies and companies that supply medical equipment (Hallo De Wolf, & Toebes, 2016). For the geriatric population at risk for falls, durable medical equipment like walkers, and wheelchairs are among the tailored fall prevention measures that are effective in preventing them from falling. Fall prevention will eradicate any unwanted injuries, hospitalizations, increased Medicare costs, and unexpected deaths related to falls. The collaboration between sectors and the healthcare system is significant in disease prevention and health promotion, this will improve the health of the public while promoting healthy outcomes.
References
AZDHS | Arizona Falls Prevention Coalition. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2020, from https://www.azdhs.gov/prevention/tobacco-chronic-disease/healthy-aging/falls-prevention/index.php#falls-prevention-about
Bekkers, V., & Tummers, L. (2018). Innovation in the public sector: Towards an open and collaborative approach. International Review of Administrative Science, 84(2) 209–213. doi: 10.1177/0020852318761797
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). STEADI-older adult fall prevention. Retrieved March 22, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/about.html
Hallo De Wolf, A., & Toebes, B. (2016). Assessing private sector involvement in health care and universal health coverage in light of the right to health. Health and human rights, 18(2), 79–92.
The Impacts of Falls on Geriatric Population with Dementia 
The readings from week 9 focused on technology in the care for patients. Your post discusses the fall assessment tools utilized to identify geriatric at risk patients and the durable medical equipment to improve mobility. Many older adults are wanting to maintain their independence and live at home. Atoyebi and colleagues (2014) reviewed the use of multiple forms of technology that can be used detect and prevent falls. Some of the technologies explored were the use of a wireless monitoring network in the home, a multiple camera system with artificial intelligence, and the use of data mining to identify patterns to determine the probability of a fall.
Another area where the private sector has been prevalent is in medical alert devices. The consumer report by Roberts (2019) describes the multiple options in medical alert devices. These systems are mobile, with 24/7 monitoring, allowing the user to call for assistance, and can have fall detection. Additional benefits to wearable devices include the ability to monitor overall health, to detect risk of fall and alert the wearer, and can provide additional information to the patient’s providers (Khanuja, Joki, Bachmann, & Cuccurullo, 2018).
Elderly persons and their families can feel more comfortable and confident about their safety when using wearable medical alert devices. The private sector is where innovations for in home safety are developed, sold, and maintained. The continued investment of the private sector in research and development of ways to care for at risk persons will help to decrease falls.
Overall, I found your post interesting to read and informative. I believe there is potential to use technology to help reduce falls in both the home and in residential facilities. I recall caring for patients before the bed and chair alarms were available. This simple sensor saved multiple falls. It will be interesting to see how technology changes and impacts the fall rates of elder adults.
References:
Atoyebi, O., Stewart, A., & Sampson, A. (2015). Use of Information Technology for Falls Detection and Prevention in the Elderly. Ageing International, 40(3), 277-299. DOI 10.1007/s12126-014-9204-0
Khanuja, K., Joki, J., Bachmann, G., & Cuccurullo, S. (2018). Gait and balance in the aging population: Fall prevention using innovation and technology. Maturitas, 110, 51-56. DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2018.01.021
Roberts, C. (2019, Feb 7). How to choose a medical alert system [webpage]. Retrieved from: https://www.consumerreports.org/medical-alert-systems/how-to-choose-a-medical-alert-system/
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