Geriatric Emergencies

Care for older adults in Emergency Departments (EDs) has historically been focused on acute medical conditions with little emphasis on geriatric-specific issues. In 2010, emergency departments (EDs) throughout the nation saw almost 130 million patients, 15% of whom were 65 or older. The number of older adults who visit an ED has doubled in the last decade and continues to grow rapidly. Older adults receiving care in an ED are highly likely to be admitted to the hospital, much more so than their younger counterparts. Preventing a hospital admission saves older adults from frequently encountered adverse events, including hospital-acquired delirium, functional status impairment, cognitive loss, and nursing home admission.

by Amal Mattu (Editor), Shamai Grossman (Editor), Peter Rosen (Editor), Robert Anderson (Editor), Christopher R. Carpenter (Editor), Andrew Chang (Editor), Jon Mark Hirshon (Editor), Ula Hwang (Editor), Maura Kennedy (Editor), Don Melady (Editor), Vaishal Tolia (Editor), Scott Wilbur (Editor)

# Transform Your Future: Become a Life-Saving Paramedic