Episode 208: Geriatric Emergency Medicine

We explore the expanding field of Geriatric Emergency Medicine.

Hosts:

Ula Hwang, MD

Brian Gilberti, MD

https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Geriatric_Emergency_Medicine.mp3

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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

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