 |
Mountain Vista Medical Center Now Offers Tailored Emergency Room Experience for Seniors
Senior Emergent Care Designed with Seniors’ Unique Needs in Mind
October 25, 2011
MESA, Ariz. (Oct. 25, 2011) – As part of Mountain Vista Medical Center’s commitment to improve the quality of health in the communities that they serve, the hospital has designated a section of the Emergency Department to address the specific needs of patients age 55 years and older. Currently, seniors in the surrounding area comprise approximately 25 percent of the population, exceeding the national average. By 2016, this percentage is anticipated to grow to 39.1 percent. Senior Emergent Care at Mountain Vista addresses the unique needs of seniors who need emergency health care services.
The Senior Emergent Care program at Mountain Vista offers the following:
- Dedicated areas for triage and treatment (trauma, chest pain and very serious injuries will go directly to the major treatment rooms).
- Medicated health care team and providers from 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. — all well versed in caring for seniors.
- ER door drop-off location with designated parking nearby.
- Each designated room includes a larger clock, walker, recliners, and non-skid flooring.
- Free blood pressure checks from 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Full medication review by a Mountain Vista pharmacist.
- Call-ahead scheduling: Call 480-358-6310 for appointment availability that is convenient for you.
“At Mountain Vista Medical Center, our goal is to create the best possible experience for every patient who entrusts us with their care. We understand that seniors have some unique needs — that’s why we’ve created an emergency room environment tailored for them,” said Tony Marinello, CEO, Mountain Vista Medical Center.
According to the CDC, approximately 25 percent of those 65 years or older will visit the emergency room (ER) at least once in a 12-month period. This percentage increases to 30 percent for those age 75 years or older.
“Visiting the ER can be a scary experience for most — and especially for seniors, who on average are visiting the ER more often than any other age group,” said Yancey Gaither, RN, director, Emergency Services, at Mountain Vista. “We hope seniors don’t have to visit the ER, but if they do, we are providing services, such as medication reconciliations, designated parking and trained and caring providers, to help to make the experience a little more pleasant for them.”
Mountain Vista has earned its reputation for delivering high quality emergency services with an experienced medical staff and advanced technology. In fact, Mountain Vista Medical Center is the only Level IV Trauma Center in the East Valley, and is a Primary Stroke Center and Cardiac Receiving Center. The large Emergency Department has 30 beds and a dedicated team that can handle a wide variety of emergencies — from broken bones to chest pain and stroke. With innovations in patient care, including bedside registration, fast track care for less serious illnesses and injuries, electronic medical records and computerized patient tracking systems, Mountain Vista provides an average length of stay that is less than half of the state average. As a value-added service, Mountain Vista displays its real-time emergency room wait times online at www.ArizonaER.com — a service that is also available via an iPhone app.
|
|
