Health Affairs: The Case For Accountable Care Organizations To Partner With Geriatric Emergency Departments
Health Affairs has published an article, "The Case For Accountable Care Organizations To Partner With Geriatric Emergency Departments."
Most health care systems, particularly hospitals and other health care facilities, are not organized or operated with the needs of elderly patients in mind. The US population is aging which is increasing the need for geriatric care. By 2035 nearly 22 percent of the U.S. population will be older than age 65.
An important place to promote age-friendly health care is the emergency department, which is the gateway to the hospital for 60 percent of Medicare admissions. This article discusses the movement to improve emergency care for older adults led by the American College of Surgeons. The article then argues that there is a great opportunity for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and geriatric emergency departments to work together. Lastly, the article explores the next steps that must be taken to advance geriatric emergency care.
To read the article, click here.
