Good Samaritan University Hospital Named an Accredited Geriatric Emergency Department

Catholic Health’s Good Samaritan University Hospital (West Islip, NY) is proud to announce its accreditation as a Geriatric Emergency Department by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). By achieving this stellar recognition, Good Samaritan has demonstrated its focus on the highest standards of care for Long Island’s older adults.
 
The Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) program is the culmination of years of progress in the emergency care of older adults. In 2014, ACEP, along with the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, Emergency Nurses Association and the American Geriatrics Society, developed and released geriatric emergency department guidelines. Recommended measures ranged from adding geriatric-friendly equipment to specialized staff to more routine screening for delirium, dementia, and fall risk, among other vulnerabilities.
 
“Older adults visit emergency departments at a high rate and often present with multiple chronic conditions and face more social and physical challenges than the general population,” said President of Good Samaritan University Hospital Ruth E. Hennessey. “Seniors who visit Good Samaritan’s accredited emergency department can be confident that the facility has the necessary expertise, equipment and personnel in place to provide optimal care. We are excited that our dedication to this population has been recognized.”
 
The voluntary GEDA program and accreditation process provides more than two dozen best practices for geriatric care, along with tracking related metrics, providing inter-disciplinary geriatric education. Accreditation as a Geriatric Emergency Department has shown that Good Samaritan:
 

• Improved patient outcomes
• Provides standardized approaches to care that address geriatric issues
• Ensures optimal transitions of care from the emergency department to other settings, including inpatient, home, community-based care, rehabilitation and long-term care
• Improved emergency department throughput
• Supports geriatric-focused quality improvement

 
Earlier this year, Good Samaritan announced its verification as a Level I Trauma Center by the Verification Review Committee, an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma (COT) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Earning the highest verification available, Good Samaritan is the only Level 1 Trauma Center for adults on the south shore of Long Island. This achievement recognizes Good Samaritan’s dedication to providing the highest level of quality and compassionate care, including optimal care for injured patients.
 
Learn more about Good Samaritan University Hospital's emergency and trauma services.