Distinction accorded health care providers that commit ‘extra resources to ensure well-coordinated, high-quality care for older patients’
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s three emergency care centers are the first on the Suncoast to become accredited Geriatric Emergency Departments, “joining a leading group of health care providers committing extra resources to ensure well-coordinated, high-quality care for older patients,” the system announced on Nov. 26.
“Adults age 65 and older make up more than 20% of Florida’s population, a news release notes, and state projections show they will account for at least half of the state’s population growth through 2030. “When they become ill or injured,” the release continues, “older patients make contact with health care systems at many points — perhaps none as frequently or as importantly as the emergency department,” said Dr. Reuben Holland, medical director of Sarasota Memorial’s Emergency and Urgent Care Centers, in the release.
“As they age, our older patients are often living with multiple chronic conditions and taking medications that make them more vulnerable to falls, adverse drug reactions, depression and dementia,” Holland pointed out in the release. “Having specially trained clinicians and extra resources to address the complex social and physical needs of our older patients can have a meaningful impact on their quality of life,” he added.
“Established in 2018 by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the voluntary Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation Program (GEDA) encourages emergency departments to adopt best practices and invest in resources designed to improve the quality of care and outcomes of older patients,” the release explains. “ACEP notes that accredited GEDs reduce the risk of repeat emergency room visits and hospital readmission, with studies showing up to 16% fewer hospital admissions and a decreased inpatient length-of-stay for admitted older patients,” the release adds.
“This year, all three of Sarasota Memorial’s emergency departments earned Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation — SMH-Sarasota, SMH-Venice and SMH’s freestanding ER in North Port,” the release notes. “At those locations and throughout its health system, SMH [Sarasota Memorial Hospital] has embraced more than two dozen best practices for geriatric care,” the release continues, with teams of specially trained clinicians, geriatric-appropriate equipment and supplies, and geriatric-focused education and care delivery processes “that support older patients’ transitions of care from the hospital to other settings (inpatient, home, community-based care, rehabilitation, long-term care).”
Connie Andersen, chief nursing officer at Sarasota Memorial, commended the health system’s entire team for its “diligence and dedication to older patients,” the release adds.
“The Emergency Department is often seen as the front doors to the hospital,” she said in the release. “We are committed to providing the best care to our patients, and achieving the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation is a demonstration of our commitment to providing excellent care to our older adults.”
The release points out, “Sarasota Memorial’s emergency departments treat older adults for everything from falls and dehydration to heart and lung problems, as well as issues related to drug interactions, fragility and cognitive decline. SMH’s specialized team includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, clinical educators, case managers and social workers all trained in geriatric conditions,” it notes. “In addition to providing a range of medical care, the team pays careful attention to discharge planning, connecting patients with support services and community programs,” the release says.
“GED accreditation is one more step SMH has taken as it continues to prioritize the care of older patients,” the release adds. “In 2019, SMH-Sarasota received national recognition as an ‘Age-Friendly Health System,’ ” joining more than 100 other hospitals across the U.S. in implementing best practices to enhance care for older adults, the release says.
Shortly after opening in 2021, SMH-Venice also earned the “Age-Friendly” designation, “which is awarded to hospitals that prioritize elements of care most important to older patients,” the release points out.