“I’m not staying in the hospital tonight”: How Emergency Departments can leverage health and social services at home to support care transitions for older patients

Authors

Emily Franzosa, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, James J. Peters VA Medical CenterFollow
Ula Hwang, Mount Sinai School of Medicine / GEDCFollow
Maya GenovesiFollow
Orna IntratorFollow
Thomas EdesFollow
Michael Malone, Advocate Aurora / GEDCFollow

Abstract

When hospital admission is less than desirable and sending a patient home alone feels unsafe, connecting patients to health and social services at home are a valuable third option for emergency providers. Coordinating home support services from the ED is effective care delivery and aligns with health systems’ goals of decreasing avoidable admissions, and developing capacity to assess and refer patients to home support from the ED is part of good emergency care. Change also doesn’t have to happen overnight. Taking small steps now to improve older patients' transitions to home can help EDs build toward high-quality, patient-centered care for older patients.

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Recommended Citation

Franzosa, Emily; Hwang, Ula; Genovesi, Maya; Intrator, Orna; Edes, Thomas; and Malone, Michael (2021) "“I’m not staying in the hospital tonight”: How Emergency Departments can leverage health and social services at home to support care transitions for older patients," Journal of Geriatric Emergency Medicine: Vol. 2: Iss. 3, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17294/2694-4715.1008
Available at: https://institutionalrepository.aah.org/jgem/vol2/iss3/1