Washington Regional Emergency Department Earns Senior-Friendly Accreditation
Washington Regional’s Emergency Department, the only Level II Trauma Center in Northwest Arkansas providing the region’s highest level of trauma care, has achieved the American College of Emergency Physicians Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA). The designation recognizes emergency departments with policies and procedures in place to meet the needs of older patients and improve outcomes.
“Older adults are more likely to need to visit the emergency department, and they often have multiple chronic conditions and physical challenges,” said Megan Lundquist, BSN, RN, Washington Regional’s emergency department operations manager. “As an accredited senior-friendly emergency department, older patients can have peace of mind knowing Washington Regional is ready 24/7 with the expertise to provide optimal care.”
The Geriatric Emergency Department accreditation program includes specific criteria and goals for clinicians and administrators. These include:
- Enhanced staffing and education
- Geriatric-focused policies and protocols, including transition of care from the emergency department to other settings
- Quality improvements and outcomes
- Standardized approaches to care that address common geriatric issues
“We recognize that emergency care is not one size fits all. Older people often have specific needs that an accredited geriatric emergency department is better able to meet,” said Washington Regional Chief Operating Officer Birch Wright. “Achieving this designation is one way Washington Regional is fulfilling its mission of improving the health of people in the communities we serve and lets our patients know we are committed to providing the highest standards of care for older adults.”
Washington Regional’s Emergency Department holds a bronze Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation and is one of only three hospitals in the state with the accreditation.
