Northwest Medical Center - Springdale’s Emergency Department (ED) has achieved the gold standard — Level I accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians’ (ACEP) Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) program. It is the first in Arkansas to achieve this milestone, as well as 12th in the nation to earn Level I gold status.
“Our team does an outstanding job every day caring for people of all ages who are experiencing medical emergencies. After listening to the community, we saw an opportunity to raise the standard of care for geriatric patients to address their specific needs,” said Hans Driessnack, chief executive officer of Northwest Medical Center-Springdale. “This unique accreditation is specifically relevant for a significant part of the population we serve. I’m so proud of our team’s work, not for just achieving this unique accreditation and being first in Arkansas to do so, but for being truly passionate about expanding the level of care available.”
In addition to significant employee and physician training in caring for geriatric patients, the process also led the hospital to expand services in the ED, including dementia screenings for all geriatric patients as well as physical therapy consults when needed. “Our team members – including emergency physicians as well as staff members – have developed a more comprehensive approach to caring for older patients, including adding new services as well as focusing on concerns that can help reduce future hospital stays and assist with care transitions,” Driessnack said. “We’ve also expanded follow-up processes to ensure that these patients are receiving proper follow-up care.”