Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg (RDHW)’s Emergency Department has received a national award for providing exceptional care to older adult patients.
RDHW’s ED team was honored with the Excellence in Geriatric Emergency Department (GED) Care Award from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). Late last month, James McCorry, DO, RDHW Chief Medical Officer, traveled to ACEP’s annual conference in Las Vegas to accept the honor.
The GED Care Award is the first national designation to recognize GEDs for superior delivery of care. ACEP evaluated hospitals on numerous criteria during a rigorous selection process, including patient satisfaction, clinical outcomes, quality improvement initiatives, patient safety, innovation, and staff training and development.
“I am incredibly proud of our Emergency Department team for their exceptional work,” said Adria Vanhoozier, RDHW President. “This recognition reflects their unwavering commitment to providing compassionate specialized care for our older patients.”
ACEP considered factors such as feedback on patient surveys; adherence to evidence-based practices; error reduction, infection control and fall prevention protocols; embrace of novel technologies and treatments; and a supportive environment for team members.
In particular, Vanhoozier credited Riverside’s Purple Flower Program with setting a new standard for approaching geriatric care in emergency settings. Team members now receive advanced training to increase their sensitivity to, and understanding of, dementia patients and how to approach and work with them. In addition, the program uses printed images of a purple forget-me-not bloom to alert all providers that a patient is living with memory loss and cognitive changes.
“It highlights the heart of what we stand for: dignity, respect and excellence in every patient interaction,” Vanhoozier said. The ACEP award, she added, “is a reflection of our ongoing drive to advance emergency medicine and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients.”
To learn more about services offered at Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg, please visit riversideonline.com/rdhw.