Following on from the release of their geriatric ED accreditation program in May, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has begun accrediting hospitals who offer the best services. The ACEP accreditation acts as both a reward for hospitals and providing a level of standardization for geriatric EDs that has otherwise been lacking. There are roughly 130 geriatric EDs currently in operation across the country but there is a great deal of variation across services that are provided. However, under the ACEP program the departments must follow specific guidelines. Within the program there are three levels of accreditation. Level 1 is the most comprehensive while 2 and 3 require the attendance of at least one geriatric-trained nurse and physician, if not the same degree of facilities. There are only eight EDs which have been accredited while a further 35 are currently under review by the ACEP. One accredited geriatric ED is New Jersey in St. Joseph's which has trained the staff in geriatric medicine and has four nurses oversee the ED at all times along with at least one of two geriatricians. Patients who visit the facility screened for dementia, delirium, depression and risk of fall and upon discharge nurse navigators ensure patients have follow-up appointments set up with their primary-care physicians. Measures such as these have brought readmittance rates down while simultaneously improving patient satisfaction.
Following on from the release of their geriatric ED accreditation program in May, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has begun accrediting hospitals who offer the best services. The ACEP accreditation acts as both a reward for hospitals and providing a level of standardization for geriatric EDs that has otherwise been lacking. There are roughly 130 geriatric EDs currently in operation across the country but there is a great deal of variation across services that are provided. However, under the ACEP program the departments must follow specific guidelines. Within the program there are three levels of accreditation. Level 1 is the most comprehensive while 2 and 3 require the attendance of at least one geriatric-trained nurse and physician, if not the same degree of facilities. There are only eight EDs which have been accredited while a further 35 are currently under review by the ACEP. One accredited geriatric ED is St. Joseph's in New Jersey which has trained the staff in geriatric medicine and has four nurses oversee the ED at all times along with at least one of two geriatricians. Patients who visit the facility screened for dementia, delirium, depression and risk of fall and upon discharge nurse navigators ensure patients have follow-up appointments set up with their primary-care physicians. Measures such as these have brought readmittance rates down while simultaneously improving patient satisfaction.