MIDDLETOWN, NY — Garnet Health Medical Center’s Emergency Department (ED) has been awarded the bronze-standard Level 3 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). The program recognizes emergency departments that deliver excellent care for older adults.

The team leaders include Garnet Health’s medical director of emergency medicine, Matthew Meigh, D.O. 

Garnet Health Medical Center sought accreditation to:

Improve patient outcomes.

Provide specialized care for common geriatric problems.

Ensure optimal transitions of care from the ED to other settings.

Support geriatric-focused quality improvement.

The GEDA program builds on years of progress in improving emergency care for older adults. It was created after national experts developed guidelines in 2014 to help emergency departments better meet the needs of seniors through, for example, geriatric-friendly equipment and trained staff, as well as screening for issues such as delirium, dementia 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, M.D., Garnet Health’s chief medical officer. “This accreditation reflects our team’s commitment to our patients, especially our geriatric population, who are most vulnerable.”

The estimated geriatric population in Orange County is nearly 16 percent, according to Sg2 Health Care Intelligence. Census data notes that Sullivan County has a geriatric population of 19 percent of total residents.

 For more information about the GEDA program, visit garnethealth.org/services/emergency-care.