ECRMC Awarded Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation
EL CENTRO – March 13, 2020 – El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC) has received Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians.
As populations continue to live longer it is important that older adults receive well-coordinated quality care. The Census estimates over 23,000 in Imperial County are over the age of 65. ECRMC received Level Three Accreditation in February 2020, meeting or exceeding all requirements established by the American College of Emergency Physicians. Level Three Accredited facilities have one or more specific initiatives that reasonably elevate the level of care for seniors in specific areas. They have the personnel, trained and identified, to implement these efforts; and, metrics for the initiatives established to address the emergency medicine needs of seniors.
“It is vitally important to ECRMC that we provide excellent healthcare to all of our patients,” said Jesse Guittard, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego Health Sciences. “With 13 percent of the population in the County over 65, we have a responsibility to our senior patients, and we are pleased to be recognized for our efforts. Most importantly, we are proud to provide quality emergency medicine to our senior patients.”
During the past decade geriatric emergency care has become more recognized in hospitals nationwide. ER care is not one-size-fits-all. Senior patients have unique presentations, needs, dispositions and outcomes that need to be addressed. As a Level Three Accredited facility, ECRMC will have all staff trained to identify and address the needs of geriatric patients in the Emergency Department at all hours of the day and night. Geriatric policies and procedures will be in place and ECRMC will ensure that all seniors have easy access to mobility aids, as well as food and drink in order to increase comfort and safety.
About El Centro Regional Medical Center
El Centro Regional Medical Center is an acute-care medical center, serving the health care needs of the Imperial Valley since 1956. In addition to a 161-bed hospital facility, ECRMC also owns and operates a state-of-the-art Medical Office Building housing the Oncology & Hematology Center, Wound Healing Center, Outpatient Imaging services, as well as numerous specialty clinics. Off-campus facilities include two outpatient clinics in El Centro and Calexico and a Community Education Center located at the Imperial Valley Mall. ECRMC provides comprehensive healthcare services for residents seeking enhanced well-being and improved quality of life.
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