Hurley Receives Recognitions for Superior Senior Care

SUPERIOR forHURLEY RECEIVES RECOGNITION

SENIOR CARE

As a leader in clinical care and education, Hurley Medical Center recently received two accreditations for excellent senior care. The American College of Emergency Physicians recognized Hurley as a BronzeStandard, Level 3 Geriatric Emergency Department through the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) program. This recognition is a testament to Hurley’s mission of improving patient outcomes by providing standardized approaches to care that address common geriatric issues. It also enhances Hurley’s reputation for providing excellent care to older adults.

The GEDA program is voluntary and includes three levels, similar to trauma center designations. It was developed by leaders in emergency medicine to ensure that older members of communities receive well-coordinated, quality care at the appropriate level at every ED encounter. Specific criteria and goals are provided for emergency clinicians and administrators to target in a process that consists of more than two dozen best practices for geriatric care. A Level 3 emergency department must incorporate many of these best practices, as well as provide interdisciplinary geriatric education and have geriatric-friendly equipment and supplies available. The Level 3 designation also means that Hurley ensures optimal transitions of care from the ED to other settings, such as inpatient care, home or longterm care. “Hurley continues to receive award recognition for the many layers of services and medical excellence for our patients 65 and older,” Cathy Metz, Administrator for Geriatrics, boasts. “From admission to discharge, Hurley cares for seniors.” That rings true to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and its partners, the John A. Hartford Foundation, American Hospital Association, and Catholic Health Association of the United States, who recently recognized Hurley as an AgeFriendly Health System Committed to Care Excellence. This designation identifies Hurley as an exemplar in the movement to improve the health and health care of older adults. To facilitate such goals, the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative is based on a series of practices focused on addressing four essential elements of care for older patients: WHAT MATTERS: Know and align care with each older adult’s specific health outcome goals and care preferences across settings of care. MEDICATION: If medication is necessary, use age-friendly medication that does not interfere with What Matters to the older adult, Mobility or Mentation across settings of care. MENTATION: Prevent, identify, treat and manage dementia, depression and delirium across settings of care. MOBILITY: Ensure that older adults move safely every day in order to maintain function and do What Matters. “Hurley Medical Center has always been on the forefront of patient care, and that’s why we are participating in this vital effort,” explains Metz. “The Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative is an important part of our overarching vision to provide every older adult with the best care possible.” Hurley’s commitment to providing optimal care to older adults is evidenced not only by these recent awards, but also by its status as the area’s only Senior Center of Excellence, which means they provide the extra layer of care and safety seniors need—like offering a bone health program and Fast-Track ER for patients 65 and older. In addition, Hurley is the only NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) hospital in the region. NICHE is an international organization out of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU that awards different levels of excellence based on nursing care. Hurley has achieved their highest ranking. All of this makes it clear: Hurley cares for seniors. If you or someone you love is a senior citizen needing medical care, Hurley Medical Center— an Age-Friendly Health System with a Bronze-Standard, Level 3 Geriatric Emergency Department—is the place to go.

"Hurley continues to receive award recognition for the many layers of services and medical excellence for

CATHY METZ, ADMINISTRATOR FOR GERIATRICS our patients 65 and older."