WASHINGTON, DC—A comprehensive assessment of older adults entering the emergency department can help reduce hospital admissions, according to a study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine.

“When older adults come to the emergency department, it is important that we have dedicated geriatric care processes in place,” said Nida F. Degesys, MD, lead study author, emergency physician, and medical director of adult emergency medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). “Age can be associated with longer stays and hospitalizations, as well as increased risks of delirium and infection, which is why these specialized care processes are so important.”

Researchers assessed whether a nurse practitioner-led geriatric assessment including additional screening and evaluation of older adults’ cognitive, functional, and social health could improve care decisions. They found that patients who received the assessment had lower levels of hospital admissions from the ED as compared to patients receiving standard care.

The research was conducted in UCSF’s ACEP-accredited Level 1 geriatric ED, recognized for meeting high national standards for age-friendly care. The results provide evidence of the value of prioritizing specialized emergency care for older adults, the researchers said.

Nearly 1 in 5 emergency department visits in the United States involve people aged 65 or older. Older adults often have more chronic conditions and are more vulnerable to complications, so they benefit from emergency care tailored to their unique health needs.

The researchers also found that lower inpatient admission levels did not result in any negative unintended consequences, such as longer stays in the ED or more frequent return visits.

“We were encouraged to see that patients were able to receive the benefits of the intervention without experiencing longer ED length of stays or higher ED re-visits,” said Dr. Degesys. “With this evidence-based intervention led by our expert team in the ED, we can be more mindful and conscientious of the care we provide for each patient.”