Woodland Heights Medical Center Achieves Accreditation as a Geriatric Emergency Department
6/24/2024
Lufkin, Texas (June 20, 2024) – Woodland Heights Medical Center announced recently that it has earned a Level 3 (bronze) accreditation as a Geriatric Emergency Department by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).
Working with other departments like pharmacy and food and nutrition services, Woodland Heights emergency nurses Madeline Carswell and Nora Phillips spearheaded this effort for the hospital. “Madeline and I have worked together in achieving this certification, knowing that following the best practices as defined by ACEP will support us in better care for our elderly population,” states Phillips.
To earn the accreditation, an emergency department must have one MD or DO with evidence of four hours of education for geriatric emergency medicine (EM), one RN with evidence of focused education for geriatric EM, access to mobility aids (canes, four-point walkers), evidence of a geriatric emergency care initiative (e.g., urinary catheter utilization policy) and easy access to food and drink 24/7.
The Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation program was developed by the American College of Emergency Physicians along with the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, Emergency Nurses Association and American Geriatrics Society to improve and standardize emergency care for older patients through enhanced staffing and education, geriatric-focused policies and protocols and more efficient preparation of the treatment area. It includes geriatric emergency department guidelines with recommending measures ranging from adding geriatric-friendly equipment to specialized staff to more routine screening for delirium, dementia and fall risk, among other vulnerabilities.
“Caring for our seniors is perhaps the greatest responsibility we have. We are excited about our ER becoming an accredited Geriatric Emergency Department and elevating the level of care we provide,” states Carswell.
Woodland Heights offers a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox from a trusted medical source. Sign up at WoodlandHeights.net/enewsletter-sign-up.
.jpg)
Pictured (left to right): Woodland Heights CEO Jose Echavarria, CNO Allison Cain, Emergency Services Nurse Nora Phillips, Emergency Services Nurse Madeline Carswell and Emergency Services Director Stephen Bennett display the Certificate of Accreditation as a Level 3 (Bronze) Geriatric Emergency Department.
Back