291831
Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and emergency department (ED) prehospital geriatric patient care: Assessing EMS and ED roles during crisis care of older adults
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
: 9:18 AM - 9:30 AM
Background/Purpose: Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and emergency department (ED) physicians play critical roles in the prehospital care phase of a disaster/crisis event involving vulnerable, geriatric populations. However, there is limited evidence of care knowledge and practices for dealing with seniors' vulnerability and unique needs, particularly during prehospital care. This session provides needed insights for improving prehospital care delivery for older adults, as well as during crises/disasters, through a study assessing knowledge, care practices, and resources used by the prehospital care community. Methods: A mixed methods study with Summa Health System ED physicians and Akron, Ohio EMS to develop and administer a survey instrument collecting data on the knowledge, opinions, policies, and current prehospital care for vulnerable, geriatric populations. We query EMS across Northeast Ohio (n~500) representing a variety of urban, suburban, and rural communities, in conjunction with Summa ED physicians caring for older adults to assess current mitigation, preparedness, and prehospital acute/chronic care practices, as well practitioner understanding of geriatric patients' unique needs. Results/Outcomes: Our study provides key insights into geriatric prehospital care knowledge and practices, a critical phase in the care continuum for older adults, specifically regarding EMS and ED physicians, as well as recommendations for future research, policy and practice. Conclusion: The impending growth of the senior population over the coming decades presents opportunities for improving geriatric care across the spectrum of care. Our research demonstrates that a practical approach is collaboration with EMS care partners assisting older adults in acute/chronic care or a disaster event.
Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Clinical medicine applied in public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Describe and discuss the unique needs and issues involving senior adults during a disaster or crisis event.
Identify specific gaps in knowledge and resources in the prehospital care of senior adults, particularly those of emergency medical service (EMS) professionals and emergency department physicians.
Discuss new strategies and focus points to inform their own prehospital care programs for older patients generally, and specifically during a disaster or crisis event.
Keywords: Elderly, Emergency
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have 17 years of experience as a preparedness and response instructor and researcher. My PhD research focused on health services and disaster/emergency preparedness, and I continue preparedness research with the first responder community, including vulnerable populations such as the elderly and college students. I have developed and taught previous disaster preparedness and response graduate courses, and published papers and presented research at national conferences on first responders and operational readiness.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
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