Hospital Emergency Rooms have had for years a separate section for children and now Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Springs, Maryland has created the first Emergency Room created only for the senior citizens.
Their recent press release announcing the Senior Emergency Room states that last year alone the hospital treated over 12,000 individuals over 65 and admitted 5,700 elderly patients.Hospital CEO, Kevin J. Sexton stated that only one in every eight Montgomery County residents are over the age of 65, “but within the next ten years the senior population is expected to grow five times faster than everyone else. Holy Cross Hospital has been for 45-years meeting its community´s needs. The increasing amount of seniors in this country gives a huge challenge to our health system and it is the responsibility for us to respond in a manner which is both sustainable and sensitive.”
The Senior Emergency Room opened in November 2008 and the six-bay center is separate from the main Emergency Center.The Senior Emergency room meets the needs of providing services for seniors and also for those who care for them.
The Holy Cross Hospital Seniors Emergency Center was scientifically designed to reduce the risk of falling, confusion and anxiety. They have installed senior-friendly lighting, special flooring, soft colors, and reduced noise and have installed hand railings.The beds have thicker mattresses, blanket warmers, big-button telephones and even pillows with built-in speakers to make more enjoyable their televisions.
The Holy Cross Hospital Seniors Emergency Center Care Team consists of registered nurses and a social worker that have had training in geriatric care. All these steps help to reduce the senior and his loved ones anxiety.
There is also an attempt to avoid repeat visits. Dr. Larry Oufiero, Chairman of the Holy Cross Department of Emergency Medicine explained in press release that, “in fact the discharge process will be central to the Seniors Emergency Center’s success. Before a senior leaves the emergency center, the team will assess the senior’s physical function, cognitive status, level of risk and then refer them to the appropriate level of care. This discharge process assures a seamless transition back to the home or other care setting and substantially lessens the probability of a return visit for the same health issue.”
The Holy Cross Elder Care Team hopes to provide an environment that will provide the optimum seniors emergency room experience. They have taken the lead in senior emergency care and how to deal with aging parents and will be a model for the rest of the country to watch and learn from.
