The Washington Post: ERs Can Be Loud, Hectic and Even Dangerous for the Elderly

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The Washington Post has published an article, "ERs Can Be Loud, Hectic and Even Dangerous for the Elderly. Here’s How Hospitals are Trying to Fix That."

The article discusses the growing recognition that older patients need a better emergency room (ER) environment and specialized care. "This has prompted many hospitals to introduce structural changes and new procedures to make their ERs age-friendly. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) launched an accreditation program last spring for the nation’s emergency departments to encourage them to adopt a more comprehensive and standardized approach for geriatric patients."

“Today, emergency departments are instituting processes and enhancements to address older patients’ vulnerabilities, and make them more comfortable,” [Kevin] Biese says. “These programs matter. They matter to the patient and to the community."

To read the article, click here.
To go to ACEP's accreditation program, click here.
To learn about The John A. Hartford Foundation's co-funding of the accreditation program, click here.