June 18, 2015

It is true - people are getting grayer. Ten thousand baby boomers turn 65 each day. By 2030, one in five will be 65 or older. And they will need our help: 80 percent will have at least one chronic disease, according to the CDC.

That’s why TriHealth is changing how it provides the high-quality, cost-effective care that aging Cincinnatians deserve - by becoming a learning organization and by adapting our facilities.

Bethesda North’s Geriatric-Friendly Emergency Department

More than 16,000 seniors receive emergency treatment each year at TriHealth’s Bethesda North. To enhance their care, we designed one of Ohio’s first geriatric-friendly emergency departments that features:

• Slip-resistant floors, large-diameter analog clocks, and stretchers with thicker padding for older adults’ fragile skin.
• Seated scales for patients who have trouble standing and exam tables that easily adjust so patients don’t have to lift their legs.
• 44 patient rooms with soft colors and special walls to filter sound.

Each step improves patients’ experiences and helps ensure they return for needed follow-up visits - key to getting healthier sooner and staying healthier longer.

Sharing Our Learning

Bethesda North is a NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) hospital. NICHE hospitals demonstrate continuous quality improvement, enhance patient and family experiences and support community needs. We actively reapply our learning with geriatric patients and share it with others.

Bethesda North ED nurses receive 17 hours of specialized geriatric training, mentoring and evidence-based protocols to guide their work. We also engage a staff pharmacist to ensure older patients understand any medications they are prescribed, lessening their chance of a return visit to the hospital.

I invite you to learn more about our new approaches to geriatric care.

To learn more, visit TriHealth.com.