Floyd Medical Center has been accredited by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) for providing excellent emergency care for older adults.
The voluntary program includes three levels similar to trauma center designations.
The hospital has received Level 2, or Silver accreditation, as a Geriatric Emergency Department.
The accreditation signifies:
- improved patient outcomes
- support of geriatric-focused quality improvement initiatives
- commitment to excellence in caring for those who require specialized care
- optimal transitions from our Emergency Care Center to home, inpatient care, community-based care, rehabilitation or long-term care
- cost-effective care
“The work to achieve level 2 designation required a deep dive into the care provided to the over 65 years of age population," said Sheila Bennett, Executive Vice President and Chief of Patient Services at Floyd. “As a result the Emergency Care Center provides age-specific care through changes in policies and clinical resources along with having the necessary equipment available to assist our elderly patients. I'm proud of the team and their commitment to excellence."
Leading the team involved in the accreditation process were Bennett, Dr. Kevin Hardwell, Chad Taylor, Director of Clinical Operations at the hospital's ECC; Sean Walker, Director of Workforce Analytics; Melissa Cagle, Staff Education Coordinator at the ECC and Carlynn Sharpe-Ehui, ECC Social Worker.
Others who also played key roles included Susan Vick, RN, Director of Coordinated Care; Julie Holyoak, NP, Clinical Manager of Palliative Care; Allen Stephens, DNP, Assistant Director of Infusion Therapy; Taryn Gurley, RN, Clinical Manager in the ECC, and Dave Williams, OT, Program Leader Rehab-Acute Inpatient.
Polk Medical Center recently received Level 3, or Bronze accreditation from ACEP.
ACEP's accreditation program was launched in 2014 with support from The Gary and Mary West Health Institute and John A. Hartford Foundation. ACEP along with Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, Emergency Nurses Association, and American Geriatrics Society, developed and released geriatric ED guidelines, recommending measures ranging from adding geriatric-friendly equipment to specialized staff to more routine screening for delirium, dementia, fall risk and other vulnerabilities.