Adventist Health Simi Valley Earns Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation
Adventist Health Simi Valley has achieved Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) from the American College of Emergency Physicians. This accreditation means that the hospital’s emergency department offers the necessary expertise, equipment and staff to provide excellent care to older patients.
As an accredited geriatric emergency department, Adventist Health Simi Valley’s protocol-driven approach to treating geriatric patients ensures superior, tailored care. To achieve accreditation, emergency department staff focused on standardizing approaches to care for common geriatric issues; ensuring optimal transitions of care from the emergency department to other settings, including inpatient units, home or rehabilitation and long-term care centers; and accomplishing a series of geriatric-focused quality improvements.
“Meeting the needs of our senior community members is a top priority,” said Nicole Westerfield, MSN-Ed, RN, MICN, Specialty Clinical Educator, Emergency Department. “While we hope they never need emergency care, our older neighbors can rest easier knowing that quality care is just around the corner.”
Older adults visit the emergency department at higher rates than other age groups and often arrive with multiple chronic conditions. Seniors who visit hospitals accredited by the American College of Emergency Physicians can know that they have enhanced staffing, education and geriatric-focused policies and protocols to provide appropriate care and to help get older patients back into their daily lives after an emergency occurs.
“Our commitment to quality is reflected in this accreditation by continuing to enhance our Emergency Department and focusing on these important members of our community,” said Jennifer Swenson, President.
Learn more about Emergency Services at Adventist Health Simi Valley. If you or a loved one ever experiences a life-threatening medical emergency, please call 9-1-1 and ask to be taken to your nearest hospital.
