Garnet Health Medical Center’s Emergency Department has received a bronze-standard Level 3 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) from the American College of Emergency Physicians. This accreditation recognizes emergency departments that deliver quality care to older adults.
The effort was led by Garnet Health Medical Center’s medical director of emergency medicine, Matthew Meigh, DO, FACOEP, along with an interdisciplinary team. The hospital pursued this recognition to improve patient outcomes, provide specialized care for common geriatric issues, ensure smooth transitions of care from the emergency department to other settings, and support ongoing quality improvement focused on seniors.
The GEDA program was established following guidelines created in 2014 by national experts. These guidelines help emergency departments better serve seniors through geriatric-friendly equipment, staff training, and screening for conditions such as delirium and fall risk.
“We’re proud to be recognized for our efforts in providing safe, compassionate and effective emergency care to our community,” said Pamela Murphy, MD, Garnet Health’s chief medical officer. “This accreditation reflects our team’s commitment to our patients, especially our geriatric population, who are most vulnerable.”
According to Sg2 Health Care Intelligence, nearly 16% of Orange County’s population is geriatric. With this accreditation, Garnet Health joins other emergency departments nationwide working to address the needs of older adults.
Garnet Health Medical Center operates as part of Garnet Health, a nonprofit formed by merging Arden Hill Hospital and Horton Medical Center into a single modern facility in Middletown in 2011. The center features seven floors with advanced technology and provides 383 beds. It employs over 2,400 healthcare professionals and works with more than 600 doctors serving local residents.
For additional information about the GEDA program: garnethealth.org/services/emergency-care.
