Monmouth Medical Center has built a dedicated Geriatric Emergency Medicine (GEM) unit to better meet the care complexities of this population Studies predict that one in five Americans will be 65 or older by 2030, and while the aging of the United States population will impact all areas of healthcare, emergency departments in particular will be affected, researchers say.
The new GEM unit at New Jersey's Monmouth Medical Center, which debuted in November, features six private enclosed rooms in a separate area of the hospital’s emergency department that are specially designed to meet the needs of the frail elderly and their caretakers. The environment is specifically designed for privacy and quiet, and seeks to reduce anxiety, noise, confusion and risk of falling, Monmouth Medical Center officials say. The nursing station in the center of the unit is specially designed to increase visibility, and rooms have special age-related features like wall sconces with dimmers and floor lighting to prevent falls. Special beds with extra-padded mattresses help reduce pressure, and built-in alarms help to prevent patient falls by alerting staff when a disoriented patient attempts to get out of bed. Large face clocks, special pillow speakers to make watching television and listening to music more comfortable, and blanket warmers are among the host of amenities for the new unit. Patients are treated by physicians and nursing staff specially trained in caring for seniors.
All patients 65 and older are screened for a host of risk factors and, if appropriate, are admitted directly to the GEM unit. The unit also has a dedicated pharmacist who will focus on medications commonly prescribed for seniors with special attention to issues that can result in dangerous interactions.
The GEM unit is the latest in a host of initiatives taken by Monmouth Medical Center to meet the special needs of its elderly patients, officials say. A longstanding geriatric program, which coordinates health and social services for the elderly and their families with a focus on comprehensive care and education, is in place. And the medical center's Anna Greenwall Geriatric Program specializes in medical care for the older adult, assessment of memory disorders and support for caregivers and the health professional, through a network of hospital-based and community-based services.
In addition, Monmouth Medical Center will be the lead hospital in the Barnabas Health Transition Program for the Frail Elderly with Dementia, a program designed to improve patients’ self-management of their care and decrease hospital readmissions among this vulnerable population afflicted with multiple chronic health conditions.
Source: Barnabas Health, November 23, 2011
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