Examining the use of geriatric assessment teams and comprehensive geriatric assessment in emergency departments

Mathieu Figeys,Naweed Ahmed,Jennifer Evans

doi:10.29173/cjen78

Abstract

Examining the use of geriatric assessment teams and comprehensive geriatric assessment in emergency departments

Highlights

With the rapidly growing population of adults over the age of sixty-five, emergency departments are seeing a markedly increased number of geriatric patients seeking acute care
Geriatric patients are significantly more likely to be admitted to formal inpatient services, and have a higher rate of adverse health outcomes post-discharge from an emergency department (Keyes, Singal, Kropf, & Fisk, 2014)
Instead of conducting a meta-synthesis or meta-analysis, this paper is focused on promoting awareness of geriatric presentations in emergency departments, highlighting the role of geriatric assessment teams, and discussing policy implications in the Canadian acute care system

Summary

Introduction

With the rapidly growing population of adults over the age of sixty-five, emergency departments are seeing a markedly increased number of geriatric patients seeking acute care. Geriatric patients in emergency departments are more likely to have diagnostic imaging and longer lengths of stay (LaMantia et al, 2010), and are more likely to require costlier care compared to their younger counterparts (Hwang & Morrison, 2007). Considering these factors, it is important to realize that the Canadian healthcare system was designed to treat acute illness instead of chronic illness, and designed for a younger population (Macintosh, Rajakulendran, Khayat, & Wise, 2016). Gaps in healthcare are being addressed through the current healthcare transformation, geriatric patients remain at a disadvantage

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