A visit to the emergency room is never a pleasant experience for anyone
Today’s post is written by Ivy Ray, Senior Procurement Specialist at SafeSourcing Inc.
A visit to the emergency room is never a pleasant experience for anyone, but for the elderly it can be downright dangerous, chaotic, and confusing. I had never given it much thought until my 85-year old mother-in-law was in town for an extended visit and had to be taken to the ER after experiencing chest pains.
Maneuvering in an ER facility can be quite frustrating for someone with diminished vision, hearing, and mobility. The medical staff is busy taking vitals, and inquiring about the current multiple medications, all of which is taking place under bright harsh lighting along with the “normal” commotion of the medical facility. Fortunately, in my mother-in-law’s case, there was a family member there to assist with answering questions and providing information.
A recent initiative by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) to accredit geriatric emergency departments, is encouraging EDs to better address the needs of older patients and is providing guidance on which EDs are best able to care of such patients. This new voluntary accreditation requires doctors and nurses to have specialized geriatric training and facilities which include mobility aids and easy access to water. Some geriatric EDs include services of a transitional care nurse to coordinate older adults’ transition from the ED to home, which helps to avoid inpatient admission, as well as unnecessary patient risks and costs. Properly caring for elderly patients requires structural design and compliance with guidelines for care coordination services to optimize visits and provide cost-effective care. In 2016, the U.S. spent 17.8 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on medical spending according to study results. In comparison, other countries spent 9.6 percent to 12.4 percent of GDP on healthcare.
SafeSourcing, Inc. has assisted our clients in sourcing providers of health resources to manage risk, while achieving their operating and performance goals in Interdisciplinary Care Plan, Post-Acute Care, and Utilization Management. For more information on how SafeSourcing can assist you in exploring your procurement solutions for your business or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.We look forward to your comments.
References…………
