Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center sets Gold Standard for Senior Emergency Care

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has awarded its highest rating for senior emergency care to Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center. The hospital has received Level I ‘Gold’ accreditation from ACEP’s Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation program, known as GEDA, which ACEP established in 2014. ACEP describes Level I accreditation as the ‘gold standard’ for geriatric emergency care.

“The GEDA program is the culmination of years of progress in emergency care of older adults,” wrote ACEP’s Sandy Schneider, MD, to hospital President Amber Price. “Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center’s accreditation signals to the public that your institution is focused on the highest standards of care for your communities’ older adults.”

 There are more than 106,000 people aged 65 or older in the Peninsula region; about 18% of the total population. This senior group is projected to be more than 20% of the population by 2026. One of the largest concentrations of older residents is in Williamsburg and surrounding counties, which is Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center’s service area.

 According to ACEP, older adults often present to EDs with complex conditions, chronic diseases and multiple medications and, sometimes, cognitive and communication issues. The challenge is to sort through these variables and identify the primary issues to provide appropriate care.

 “Our ED team invests a lot of time learning about senior care and putting that knowledge into practice with older patients,” says Amber Price, President of Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center. “I am proud of them for achieving the only Gold Level ACEP accreditation in Virginia, and setting the community standard for geriatric care in our ED.” 

 The voluntary GEDA program includes more than two dozen best practices for senior care. The level of accreditation depends on how many best practices an emergency department adopts and employs. The program also expects optimal transitions of care from the ED to inpatient units, home, rehabilitation or long-term care.

 “We welcome ED patients of all ages, “adds Amber Price, “but we want our senior residents to know our ED is committed to meeting their unique and specific needs.”