MedStar Health announced that MedStar Montgomery Medical Center has earned Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA), recognizing the hospital’s efforts to provide specialized emergency care for older adults. The designation places the hospital among a relatively small group nationwide, with approximately ten percent of emergency departments achieving this accreditation.
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center received bronze, Level 3 accreditation, which requires hospitals to demonstrate a range of geriatric-focused practices. These include specialized training for emergency clinicians, geriatric-friendly policies and protocols, evidence-based care pathways, environmental adjustments, performance improvement initiatives, and community partnerships designed to support older patients.
According to the hospital, its emergency department treats about 30,000 patients each year, many of whom are older adults with complex medical needs. Hospital leadership said the accreditation reflects a commitment to delivering care that is tailored to seniors through evidence-based practices, enhanced coordination, and staff education.
The GEDA program is a national initiative governed by the American College of Emergency Physicians, with support from the Gary and Mary West Health Institute and the John A. Hartford Foundation. The program offers three levels of recognition, with accreditation based on how many of more than two dozen established best practices an emergency department meets. Level 3 accreditation requires the incorporation of many of these practices, interdisciplinary geriatric education, and the availability of geriatric-appropriate equipment and supplies.
Emergency departments that participate in the GEDA program typically report outcomes such as lower rates of return visits, improved patient experiences, fewer hospital admissions for older adults, shorter lengths of stay for admitted seniors, and higher staff morale.
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center officials said the hospital will use feedback from the accreditation process to further develop its approach to geriatric emergency care as it prepares for reaccreditation in three years. Additional information about the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation Program is available through the American College of Emergency Physicians.
