Health Quality Council CEO talks falls during local stop

The Ontario Health Quality Council’s CEO made a stop in Thunder Bay to meet health-care providers across Northwestern Ontario Tuesday.  

Ben Chan dedicated this trip to help in reducing the number of falls by frail and elderly people in the region. Chan says in the past year, falls have been reduced by nearly 50 percent in Northwestern Ontario, which is good news for hospitals. 

Many elderly patients who fall can become bedridden and have to undergo surgery, so fall prevention can free up beds in hospital emergency rooms around the region.  

During the conference at the Victoria Inn Tuesday, many different strategies were presented, which Chan says will help the Health Quality Council find the best solutions specific to this community. 

Chan said he believes education will help to reduce even more falls in the future, at a surprisingly low cost to health-care providers.   

Chan added that falls can be prevented by taking simple precautions, such as adding safety bars in washrooms, wearing proper footwear, and keeping carpets secured to the floor where frail and elderly people live.