CMS139v13: Falls: Screening for Future Falls

Percentage of patients 65 years of age and older who were screened for future fall risk during the measurement period.

Numerator

Patients who were screened for future fall risk at least once within the measurement period

This assessment can be recorded in several ways:

• Clinical Decision Support rule: Completing the following CDS rules will count towards completion.
  • "Assessment of Fall Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults"
  • "Prevention of Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults at Increased Risk" will count as long as the Results/Comments for that rule includes the word "assessed"
• Text in Chart: In the encounter in the Physical Exam, Assessment or Plan fields, or in the Cognitive and Functional Status section of the Summary Sheet, any of the following phrases are found:
  • get up and go
  • TUG
  • assessed for fall risk
  • risk for falling
  • gait assessed
  • risk assessment for falls done

Denominator

Patients aged 65 years and older at the start of the measurement period with a visit during the measurement period

Denominator Exceptions

• Exclude patients whose hospice or palliative care overlaps the measurement period:
  • Identified in the patient's Alerts and Directives, located in the demographic screen or the Summary Sheet, in the name, text or comments saved with that alert/directive. The Alert/Directive should include either of the following phrases:
    • palliative
    • hospice