Geriatric ED: Cost-Efficient Hub of Care

Geriatric emergency departments can pay for themselves by meeting healthcare reform incentive goals No one can deny the aging of our population in general, and of the emergency department patient load in particular. But there is some disagreement about how EDs should respond – specifically whether it is appropriate to design geriatric emergency departments. After all, in an era of belt-tightening and budget slashing is it really our priority to invest in softer mattresses, warmer lighting and aromatherapy? I aim to dispel the myth that geriatric EDs are just about superficial aesthetic improvements and show that these departments, far from being a drain on the bottom line, can actually pay for themselves by meeting healthcare reform incentive goals. We’ll focus specifically on cost, revenue and savings. But first we need to have a better understanding of the essential ingredients of geriatric emergency medicine. For that we turn to the ACEP Geriatric EM Section’s draft, which pulled together the current literature and research; the collective experience and consensus of the Geriatric EM section as well as input from ENA, SAEM, and AGS. The draft document of the Task Force identifies key elements of a Geriatric ED. A partial list of recommendations follows from the document as well as a couple attributes from my geriatric ED: 1. Environment of care A patient area that provides a quieter, safer, “less typical ED” environment conducive to establishing a rapport between...
Source: EPMonthly.com - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news