GARY AND MARY WEST SENIOR
EMERGENCY UNIT AT UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH
Standard in Geriatric
Emergency Department
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a
In 2019, a growing 33% of San Diego County Emergency Department (ED) encounters were made by people over 60 years old and the writing was on the wall—prepare for the changing patient population or face incredible challenges meeting the future needs of the community. In response,
UC San Diego Health’s Jacobs Medical Center established the first Geriatric Emergency Department (GED) in the state of California and later opened a dedicated space in the ED for geriatric emergency
medicine—the Gary and Mary West Senior Emergency Care Unit (SECU). UC San Diego Health’s GED was made possible through a partnership with West Health. This collaboration included funding
for the construction of a specialized geriatric care unit and a five-year research partnership with a shared vision to create, implement, and share best practices in geriatric care, with the ultimate goal of
expanding the GED model statewide.
Since then, the Gary and Mary West SECU has set the gold standard of geriatric emergency care in California by providing safe and high-quality care, accelerating research and innovation, and leading
training and development for California hospitals. Population growth of older adults is occurring nationally, and here in San Diego, UC San Diego Health is leading the charge in ensuring older adults
receive the very best care.
FEATURES INCLUDE:
< Nursing station visible from all patient
rooms
< Patient toilets situated adjacent to staff
work areas to better monitor patient use
and needs
< Brighter lights as well as large, clear
signage and artwork to make it easy to
find the way around
< Variable room lighting and window
treatments that orient patients to the
actual time of day
< Color-contrasting walls, floors and
furniture to lessen visual confusion and
lower fall risk
< Nonslip flooring to protect against falls
< Sound-absorbing walls to minimize
ambient noise
< Quieter alarms, pagers and other
equipment to keep noise levels low and
minimize potential anxiety in patients
< Hearing-aid, visual-assist and mobility
devices
< Thick mattresses to enhance comfort
and reduce pressure and friction on the
body
< Recliners to help patients change
position, as needed, and improve
mobility
< Private lounge
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