Falls Prevention Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital
- 828 West 10th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9
- fallsclinicadmin@hiphealth.ca
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- (604) 875-4111 ext. 69611
- Fax: (604) 875-5129
The Falls Prevention Clinic is a referral-based clinic that specializes in preventing falls and fractures among adults aged 65 and over. Our mission is to identify why our patients fall and address these risk factors in collaboration with family physicians, specialists, and evidence-informed best-practice medicine.
How to access
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Who should visit - eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the Falls Prevention Clinic, you must meet the following criteria.
You:
- are aged 65 or over,
- are community-dwelling (including assisted living facilities),
- have had at least one fall in the previous 12 months,
- patients who have sustained a fall-related fracture will be prioritized
- have not been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia,
- do not have any progressive neurological conditions (e.g. Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, etc.), and
- are able to walk at least 10 meters (with or without assistive device)
If you meet the above criteria and are interested in being seen at our Clinic, please speak to your family physician about a referral.
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For referring health professionals
Ensure your patient is eligible for an appointment. Appointment at the Falls Prevention Clinic will include a thorough falls risk assessment and a consultation with a geriatrician.
Update September 2023: Please note the current waitlist for a new referral is at least 6 months.
Eligibility criteria:
- Aged 65 and over
- Has had at least 1 fall in the past 12 months
- patients who have sustained a fall-related fracture are prioritized
- Has not been diagnosed with a progressive neurological condition (e.g., Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, etc.)
- Has reasonable cognitive function, and has not been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease (MMSE score of 24 or higher)
- Is ambulatory (with or without assistive device)
- Has a life expectancy of >1 year
- Can verbally communicate in English or has an interpreter
Referral process:
- Step 1: Determine if your patient is eligible for the clinic (refer to eligibility criteria above)
- Step 2: Fill out our referral form. Make sure all sections are completed. Please attach all relevant test results and reports (e.g., DEXA, blood work, bone scan, CT scan, X-rays, etc.), consult reports, and hospital discharge summaries
- Step 3: Fax referral to 604-875-5129
- Step 4: Our office will contact your patient directly to set up an appointment
Hours of operation
- Monday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
How to get here
The Falls Prevention Clinic & Centre for Hip Health & Mobility is located in the VGH Research Pavilion on West 10th Avenue. When arriving for an appointment, dial 69611 using the telephone in the lobby, and one of our staff members will come to greet you.
General parking is available in the Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, and a limited number of metered parking spaces are available along West 10th Avenue.
Parking rates for VCH facilities
Handicapped parking is available across the street from the VGH Research Pavilion.
What to expect at your appointment
At the Falls Prevention Clinic, your appointment will include a Falls Risk Assessment and a comprehensive assessment with a geriatrician. The evidence-based Falls Risk Assessment will be performed by one of our staff, and will include various tests and activities to assess your strength, balance, vision, proprioception and reaction time. There will also be a variety of questionnaires assessing your state of independent living and cognitive health. Afterwards, you will see a geriatrician (physician specializing in the care of seniors) who will focus on diagnosis, test interpretation, and intervention to prevent future falls.
Your appointment may take up to three hours.
How to prepare for your appointment
Before your appointment we will send you a confirmation letter that tells you where your appointment will take place, and what you should wear and bring to your appointment.
Please bring:
- A list of all of the medications and supplements you are currently taking and their doses
- Your eye glasses
- Shoes that you normally wear for walking
Cancellation policy
Please understand that due to our current waitlist, any cancellation or reschedule made less than three business days may result in a cancellation fee of $50.
If cancellation is necessary, we require that you call us at (604) 875-4111 ext 69611 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If necessary, you may leave a detailed voicemail message. We will return your call as soon as possible. Appointments are in high demand, and your advanced notice will allow another patient access to that appointment time.
Thank you for understanding.
Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)
Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) offers specialized health-care services to residents in Vancouver and across the province through regional programs. We provide a full range of basic and highly specialized emergency health-care and trauma services to British Columbia.