Contents

Disclaimer

Oxford University Press makes no representation, express or implied, that the drug dosages in this book are correct. Readers must therefore always check the product information and clinical procedures with the most up to date published product information and data sheets provided by the manufacturers and the most recent codes of conduct and safety regulations. The authors and the publishers do not accept responsibility or legal liability for any errors in the text or for the misuse or misapplication of material in this work. Except where otherwise stated, drug dosages and recommendations are for the non-pregnant adult who is not breastfeeding.

Show Summary Details
Page of

Geriatric patients in the emergency department 

Geriatric patients in the emergency department
Chapter:
Geriatric patients in the emergency department
Author(s):

Don Melady

and Barry J. Goldlist

DOI:
10.1093/med/9780198701590.003.0032
Page of

PRINTED FROM OXFORD MEDICINE ONLINE (www.oxfordmedicine.com). © Oxford University Press, 2016. All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single chapter of a title in Oxford Medicine Online for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).

date: 24 January 2020

This chapter addresses strategies for closing the ‘quality gap’ between the needs of complex older patients presenting to an emergency department (ED) and what current EDs mostly provide. It reviews historical reasons that the current system often fails to address the multiple and multifactorial needs of an older person in the ED. It explores domains of care—complex and atypical presentations, an awareness of polymorbidity, polypharmacy, falls, cognitive impairment, and end-of-life issues—that are specific to the older ED patient. It suggests opportunities for quality improvement in the essential components of a senior-friendly ED, summarizing some of the changes to staffing, education, policies, procedures, and physical design that prioritize the needs of older patients. It identifies the importance of the ED’s role in the continuum of care and opportunities for improving transitions of care involving the ED.

Access to the complete content on Oxford Medicine Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts for each book and chapter without a subscription.

Please subscribe or login to access full text content.

If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.

For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.