Leading the Way in Geriatric Emergency Care: The VA’s Patient-Centered Innovation

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is transforming geriatric emergency care through patient-centered innovation. The VA is becoming a national leader in this field, addressing the complex medical and social needs of an aging veteran population. Key points include:

Challenges in Geriatric Care

Older adults often present with multifaceted medical conditions, leading to longer emergency department (ED) stays and higher healthcare costs.

VA’s Commitment

In 2018, the VA launched a nationwide investment in Geriatric Emergency Departments (GEDs), resulting in significant improvements in care, reduced hospital admissions, and lower overall costs.

Achievements

The VA has become the largest GED accredited health system, with 67 accredited GEDs across the nation.

Case Studies

Successful programs like GERI-VET and pharmacy-led initiatives at various VA Medical Centers have shown reduced ED admissions, improved care integration, and high patient satisfaction.

Future Directions

The VA aims to expand GED accreditation across all VA EDs, enhance connectivity with external geriatric initiatives, and focus on value-based care for older veterans.

These efforts align with the VA’s strategic goals to enhance care delivery, promote high reliability and innovation, and ensure an enhanced experience for veterans.