Proto Magazine Article on Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Hospital Units
Massachusetts General Hospital's Proto Magazine, discusses how hospitals are adopting an acute care for elders (ACE) protocol in order to help older patients get better more quickly.
The article discusses why care for older adults needs to differ in a hospital unit and what the benefits of specialized geriatric units are. It explains that, "The real hallmark of ACE is an interdisciplinary team....Typically, the team will meet at least five times a week to discuss a care plan for each patient." ACE units have better care and lower cost outcomes.
The piece, however, notes that, "While there’s little disagreement that geriatric emergency departments and “acute care for elders” units can help protect vulnerable older patients, financial and other issues have so far prevented these and similar models from proliferating. But The John A. Hartford Foundation recently made a $3.19 million grant to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the American Hospital Association to establish what it calls Age-Friendly Health Systems at a fifth of U.S. hospitals and health systems by 2020. That system focuses on getting medications right, maintaining mobility, preventing or improving the treatment of cognitive problems (depression, dementia and delirium), and paying more attention to patients’ preferences. “A hospital doesn’t necessarily need an ACE unit if it implements all of these practices,” says Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, president of the foundation."
To read the article, click here.