Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital announced on May 21 that it is expanding specialized emergency care for older adults through its Geriatric Emergency Department Initiative (GEDI) program. The initiative aims to improve outcomes and provide patient-centered support for individuals aged 65 and older during and after their emergency department visits.
The need for geriatric-focused emergency care is growing as the U.S. population ages, with senior citizens accounting for up to 20 percent of hospital emergency visits nationally. Older adults face increased risks such as infection, falls, delirium, frailty, and death when hospitalized. Geriatric-focused models have been shown to improve coordination of care and support safer transitions home.
"Our hospital ranks among the top in the nation for the volume of emergency department visits by adults 65 years and older," said Amanda Capuano, RN, GEDI program lead at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. "There is a strong community need for geriatric-focused emergency care in the south suburbs. Since we launched the GEDI program, we have seen significant improvements in patient experience and outcomes for our older adult patients." Each team member receives geriatric-specific training and uses evidence-based tools such as fall-risk screening and medication reconciliation to tailor interactions that support safety and independence.
The GEDI model was first introduced at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in 2013, which was among the first hospitals nationally to earn Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation. "The geriatric emergency department model is designed to meet the unique needs of older adults, who often arrive with multiple, overlapping medical and social concerns," said Scott Dresden, MD, director of the GEDI program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital since 2013. "Instead of focusing only on the immediate issue...our multi-disciplinary GEDI team looks deeper to understand why that fall happened and how we can prevent the next one...our GEDI model has significantly reduced hospitalizations, readmissions and Medicare costs for older adults." Capuano added: "Every older adult who walks through our doors has a story...Our team sits with them...and helps build a plan that keeps them safer...We’ve seen patients thrive because they know they’re supported even after they leave."
GEDI nurses continue supporting discharged patients through resource packets tailored by community, follow-up calls, daily check-ins for those living alone, and partnerships with local fire departments to identify seniors at risk due to self-neglect or unsafe conditions. A recent “Go Bag” project encourages seniors to prepare personal kits containing medications and key information; first responders are being trained to look out for these kits during emergencies.
Ben Knights from Palos Fire Protection District said: "Our firefighters are in people’s homes every day...Having a direct line to the GEDI nurses means we can connect seniors to help fast. It’s truly saving lives in this community." The hospital plans further expansion of its outreach through collaborations with senior centers and other organizations across Chicagoland.
Northwestern Medicine recognizes community contributions through humanitarian awards reflecting values of compassion; it also receives national recognition supporting physician well-being according to its official website. The health system functions under parent organization Northwestern Memorial HealthCare led by Howard B. Chrisman as president and chief executive officer according to its official website. Its mission includes world-class patient care along with education and research while engaging in strategic collaborations advancing clinical research according to its official website.
