AHA Age-Friendly Health Systems Resources: Value Initiative Issue Brief and Case Studies
The American Hospital Association (AHA) has released several Age-Friendly Health Systems resources. The resources include an AHA Value Initiative Issue Brief and case studies from Kent Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, and, more recently, Banner Health System and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
The Value Initiative Issue Brief explores the value-based components of Age-Friendly Health Systems. From enhanced patient experience to improved outcomes, the brief builds an argument for why implementation of the 4Ms can lead to medical benefits and reduced costs. Case studies where this has been scaled into practice are Kent Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, Banner Health System and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. These important examples provide lessons on execution, impact measurement, and future steps.
At Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, nurses started asking their patients “what matters,” which improved patient satisfaction scores and reduced readmission rates. Kent Hospital in Warwick, Rhode Island, opened an Adult Care for Elders unit, implemented delirium screening, and started documenting “What Matters” to older adult patients. As a result, the length of stay and falls with injury decreased, and patient and staff satisfaction increased.
At Banner Health's Healthy Together Care Partnership, patient and provider satisfaction scores for patients who receive age-friendly care has increased, and costs have decreased. Promising outcomes related to emergency utilization also have been reported. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles integrated the Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms Framework in its Geriatric Fracture Program established telehealth visits for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, improving patient outcomes and experience, and reducing lengths of stay and cost of care.
To access the Issue Brief, click here.
To access the Kent Hospital Case Study, click here.
To access the Rush University Medical Center Case Study, click here.
To access the Banner Health System Case Study, click here.
To access the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Case Study, click here.
To go to AHA's Age-Friendly Health Systems webpage, click here.
To learn more about JAHF's support of AHA, click here.
