Good Samaritan ACEs care for older patients
Good Samaritan has received an Age-friendly Health System designation from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, recognizing the hospital’s thoughtful process to address older patients’ unique medical needs and help them feel comfortable and safe throughout their inpatient stay, improving their engagement in their care. Our Acute Care for the Elderly unit, which we refer to as the ACE Unit, focuses on providing specialized, evidence-based care for older adults by committing to the 4Ms Framework: What Matters, Medication, Mentation and Mobility.
The programs and practices that support this work at Good Samaritan include:
What Matters: Upon admission, patients receive a “What Matters” flyer that invites them to share their personal goals, preferences and priorities for care. Nursing caregivers review this information with the patient and document it in Epic, ensuring that individual values and goals are incorporated into the plan of care.
Medication: Pharmacists actively participate in reviewing medications for all ACE patients prior to daily interdisciplinary rounds. This process helps identify potentially inappropriate medications and supports safe prescribing practices for older adults. Any medication-related concerns or recommendations are discussed collaboratively during rounds.
Mentation: We emphasize consistent and accurate completion of the Confusion Assessment Method evaluation each shift. This supports the early identification, prevention and management of delirium, helping to improve outcomes for older adult patients.
Mobility: We implemented a dedicated full-time Mobility Technician role on the ACE unit to promote patient mobility, maintain functional independence, prevent deconditioning, and reduce fall risk throughout hospitalization. This role provides focused support to help patients remain as active and independent as possible during their stay.
“I think the best features of the ACE Unit are the dedicated mobility tech and the multidisciplinary rounds,” said Veronica Meierbachtol, DO, Good Samaritan chair of Hospital Medicine. “The mobility tech is such a wonderful asset to the patients in order to increase the ambulation of this population vulnerable to deconditioning. The multidisciplinary rounds help to solidify communication between all caregivers.”
She adds that recognition should be extended to Sarah McManus and the full nurse management team for their dedication to the ACE Unit. More information about the Age-friendly Health System designation can be found here.