Providing safe, efficient care for the specialized needs of geriatric patients in the emergency department holds unique challenges, and this session will provide recommendations on how to design examination rooms that are geriatric friendly. A checklist will be provided that will facilitate a quick evaluation of patient care locations in new construction or existing emergency rooms and freestanding emergency facilities to gauge how geriatric friendly they are.

Learning Objectives:

1.) Assess design challenges facing older adults seeking health care services in the emergency department.

2.) Explain why the design of emergency room examination and treatment spaces should focus on the physical environment and incorporate the equipment required for older adults’ specific needs.

3.) Identify the stakeholders that will need to collaborate to bring about changes—both operational and physical—to improve geriatric patient care and comfort in ED spaces.

4.) Apply a checklist tool to evaluate the physical elements and conditions in emergency department spaces and determine design changes that will better serve the needs of geriatric patients.

Kathryn Gallagher MS, RN

Clinical Advisor, Real-Estate, Design & Construction, Univeristy of Pennsylvania Health System

Appearances