Standing Balance as the Fifth Vital Sign in Clinical Setting

This 18-month prospective, observational study involving real world data will determine if the use of a standing scale that delivers a quantitative measure of standing balance along with weight (balance + weight) in place of a scale that only delivers weight (weight only) influences clinical decision making by health care practitioners in the ambulatory outpatient setting. Providers will be randomized to receive the balance+weight scale or weight-only scale for 9 months, then to crossover and receive the other for 9 months. The primary outcome measures are (1) providers' self-reported perceptions of whether the balance measurement influences their clinical decision making and (2) the rate of performing falls risk assessments or referring to a specialist for evaluation and treatment based on aggregate billing data. The secondary outcome measure is qualitative interviews with practitioners regarding their perceptions on the utility and barriers to using the device.