TUCSON, Ariz. — Banner University Medical Center Tucson was recently awareded an accreditation that gives it more access to research and resources for older patients.
Banner UMC is the only hospital in southern Arizona to be awarded the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation [acep.org] (GEDA) from the American College of Emergency Physicians.
The accreditation ensures older patients will receive well-coordinated, quality care. To date, ACEP has accredited nearly 100 GEDA-certified hospitals nationwide.
Each day, an estimated 10,000 individuals in the United States turn 65, and older adults are visiting emergency departments with greater frequency.
Dr. Arthur B. Sanders, professor and member of the Geriatric Emergency Research Collaboration, said they've been doing research with the Center of Aging on treating older patients for decades and realized their needs weren't being met the way they needed to be.
"We found that older patients are often uncomfortable," Dr. Sanders said. "We often didn’t recognize the special needs of older patients."
He said with more access to resources and education, doctors at Banner can ensure a team is dedicated to meeting the older community's needs.
"We need to understand that there physiology is different. There functional reserve is different. There needs are different," Dr. Sanders said. "We need to understand that and delivery optimal care for them."
The goal for Banner UMC's Emergency Rooms, Dr. Sanders said, is to have an area of the ER dedicated to treating patients 65 and older.
