St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson, NJ, recently opened the region's first dedicated Geriatric Emergency Department (Geriatric ED). Treating patients age 65 and older, the department is designed to meet the complex needs of older patients in a senior-friendly environment.
"As people get older, they are more likely to have chronic diseases and other health issues unique to aging that require more frequent emergency department visits," says Dr. Mark Rosenberg, chairman of Emergency Medicine at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center. "During these visits, it is our responsibility to evaluate their condition as well as help them maintain their health and functionality."
The new 14-bed Geriatric ED is focused on treating highly functional seniors who do not require stabilization. The unit is a separate area away from both the Adult Emergency Department and Pediatric Emergency Department, and is staffed by clinicians trained in geriatric emergency medicine, including physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists and toxicologists as well as occupational and physical therapists. Strategically located down the hall from the dedicated inpatient Geriatric Unit, a Geriatric ED nurse practitioner coordinates all required inpatient admissions and helps the patient and family transition from the Emergency Department to the hospital.
"With 79 million baby boomers turning 65 in 2011, we're proud to say that the dedicated Geriatric ED and the construction of the new Critical Care Building, which will house a new Emergency Department, put St. Joseph's in a strong position to treat this growing population and its unique needs," adds Rosenberg.
Along with the dedicated staffing, location and equipment for the department, special protocols are in place to help prevent return visits and to make sure the patient's condition is improving after discharge.