Geri EM

Older adults are arriving in EDs worldwide at an ever-increasing pace leading some to refer to aging baby-boomers as a “demographic tsunami”.  Several hundred EDs around the U.S. are already advertising themselves as “Geriatric EDs” (http://pmid.us/24628759) and policy-makers continue to seek provider-level solutions for these challenges (http://pmid.us/24301394).  Although EM leaders in healthy aging and evidence-based approaches to geriatric emergencies have published high-yield research priorities (http://pmid.us/21498881 and http://pmid.us/21676064), core competencies for EM residents (http://pmid.us/20370765), quality indicators (http://pmid.us/19344452), and guidelines (http://pmid.us/24890806 and ) – all healthcare delivery is ultimately a local endeavor requiring communication, awareness, acceptance, and the ability to apply principles that facilitate “knowledge translation”.  Accordingly, this regional symposium “” was developed to bring together key stakeholders engaged in the emergency care of an aging population.  To attain optimal outcomes for older adults, a team-based approach is required so key stakeholders include emergency nurses/physicians, case managers, hospital administrators, home health, hospitalists, primary care providers, geriatricians, patient organizations like AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association, and patients themselves.  We strongly encourage attendees to complete the six http://geri-em.com/ modules before the symposium on November 8th – residents will be awarded asynchronous learning credit and both nurses and physicians can earn free CME for completing each module.  The symposium will occur November 8th from 8AM-12PM at St. Louis University Medical School.  This website will be updated weekly with new interviews, thought-provoking challenges, key links, and updates to the agenda and symposium schedule as they occur.  The symposium is free, so please come to share your ideas and concerns – and bring a friend!  Questions or ideas for the symposium – please email Lisa Hayes at hayesli@wusm.wustl.edu.

Learn more about the upcoming GERI EM Event here  

A Message from Washington University School of Medicine Dean David Perlmutter, M.D.

America is aging.  In fact, the fastest growing segment of the population are octogenarians.  The baby-boomer generation will ensure that this trend continues for decades.  Unfortunately, this “gray tsunami” is occurring during an era when the House of Medicine is experiencing declining numbers of Geriatricians.  Recognizing this challenge, the American Geriatrics Society, in conjunction with the American College of Emergency Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Emergency Nurses Association developed and endorsed “Geriatric Emergency Department Guidelines” in 2013 to promote integrated, transdisciplinary, efficient, and cost-effective healthcare delivery for older adults during episodes of acute illness or injury.  The GED Guidelines have since been endorsed by the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians and have motivated “Senior-Friendly Emergency Care” symposia, research, and policy discussions in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Australia.  In addition, the American College of Surgeons are developing “Best Practices” for geriatric trauma patients with the assistance of the GED Guideline developers.  However, the Institute of Medicine estimates that adaptation of research or guidelines into bedside healthcare delivery requires 17-years for 14% of recommendations to be incorporated – so publications alone are never enough.  All healthcare is local and this symposium provides a unique opportunity for those who deliver medical care to older adults during and throughout an acute threat to their well-being (illness or injury) to engage in problem-solving by identifying key educational priorities, transition of care resources, and opportunities to collaborate across specialties and healthcare systems to promote healthy aging.  As the Executive Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs and Dean of the Washington University School of Medicine, it is clear that medical education continues to adapt in response to an aging society and I enthusiastically support this symposium.  Since a typical episode of care for frail elderly often includes pre-hospital providers, emergency department nurses and physicians, inpatient nurses and physicians, physiotherapy, trauma surgery, case management, home health, and primary care teams, I hope that you’ll consider sending representatives from your hospital to this event to explore regional opportunities to incorporate guideline-based care into older adult healthcare.

Don’t believe that the ACEP/SAEM/ENA/AGS Geriatric ED Guidelines apply to your department?  Check out this GEMCast blog and podcast discussing simple interventions designed to improve the care of older adults in the busy emergency department:  https://gempodcast.com/2016/06/29/5-ways-to-geriatricize-your-ed/

Geriatric EM Importance? Listen to these perspectives from administrators, educators, and EMS leaders!

Interview with Mike Klevens, St. Luke’s Hospital (Chesterfield) ED Director

Interview with Craig Krausz (SLU EM Associate Program Director) and Jason Wagner (Wash U EM Program Director)

Interview with Don Melady, Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians Geriatric EM Interest Group and creator Geri-EM.com

Interview with Brian Froelke, Christian Northeast (St. Louis) EMS Medical Director

Interview with Derrick Lowery

Geriatric Emergency Medicine – In the News!