Episode 208: Geriatric Emergency Medicine

We explore the expanding field of Geriatric Emergency Medicine. Hosts: Ula Hwang, MD Brian Gilberti, MD Download One Comment Tags: Geriatric Show Notes Key Topics Discussed Importance and impact of geriatric emergency departments. Optimizing care strategies for geriatric patients in ED settings. Practical approaches for non-geriatric-specific EDs. Challenges in Geriatric Emergency Care Geriatric patients often present with: Multiple chronic conditions Polypharmacy Functional decline (mobility issues, cognitive impairments, social isolation) Adapting Clinical Approach Core objective remains acute issue diagnosis and treatment. Additional considerations for geriatric patients: Review and caution with medications to prevent adverse reactions. Address functional limitations and cognitive impairments. Emphasize safe discharge and care transitions to prevent unnecessary hospitalization. Identifying High-Risk Geriatric Patients Screening tools: Identification of Seniors at Risk (ISAR) Frailty screens Alignment with the “Age-Friendly Health Systems” initiative focusing on: Mentation Mobility Medications Patient preferences (what matters most) Mistreatment (elder abuse awareness) Minimizing Hospital-Related Harms Involvement of multidisciplinary teams: Social workers and care managers for care transitions Geriatric-certified pharmacists for medication review Coordination with outpatient services post-discharge Implementing Geriatric Care in All EDs Basic geriatric care achievable even in resource-limited or rural EDs. Level 3 Geriatric ED Accreditation can be achieved through: Improved care transitions Staff education enhancements Age-friendly environments (comfort, nutrition, hydration) Future of Geriatric Emergency Medicine Vision: Universal integration of geriatric-focused care. Goals: Enhanced patient experience Improved care transitions Alignment of treatments with patient goals Broader enhancement of emergency care quality for all patient populations Read More