Senior Emergency Departments on the Rise

Forward-thinking emergency departments (EDs) across the United States are adopting new guidelines to get accredited as geriatric EDs amid a massive influx of seniors, reports WNDU . Missouri Baptist Medical Center exemplifies this trend with nonstick floors, large-faced clocks, dimmable lights, windows to keep visitors attuned to time of day, specially trained staff, testing for dementia and fall risk, and immediate follow-up care at home. As of September, U.S. hospitals with accredited geriatric ED totaled 85, and early research indicates seniors treated at geriatric EDs are less likely to be hospitalized. ED doctors hope the accreditation program will spur ED departments nationwide to adopt the guidelines. Geriatric EDs should be quieter, with amenities that include comfortable beds or cots, as well as screening tools that can rapidly flag physical or mental health risks more common in older adults. Doctors and nurses receive additional training in geriatrics beyond what they learned during emergency medical training.