Added: Dec 6, 2011

From: batonrougegeneral

Duration: 5:44

Baton Rouge General Mid-City announced the opening of the region's first Seniors Emergency Room specially designated and designed for adults 65 and older. "As the baby boomer population in our community continues to age, Baton Rouge General has embraced the pressing need to synergize emergency and geriatric medicine. Our new Seniors ER is the culmination of many people working together to provide specialized care to our older patients," said Bill Holman, President and CEO, Baton Rouge General. The Seniors ER is staffed with a highly skilled team of medical professionals specializing in geriatric care and trained in administering screenings and assessments to identify patients who may need additional assistance or resources outside of the hospital. The team will include physicians specializing in geriatrics, emergency medicine, and palliative care; nurses trained in geriatric emergency care, and sensitivity training for other disciplines including physical therapists, pharmacists, social workers and all staff work with our seniors. "We have worked passionately to identify what seniors need most and have designed a physical space and enhanced our medical teams to meet their unique needs," said Dr. Venkat Banda, MD, FACP. Dr. Banda added that the Seniors ER would be a place for families and caregivers to find information and guidance related to senior care whether at home, in assisted living or nursing home facilities as well as during hospital stays. Comprised of a special area dedicated to meet seniors' needs, the new Seniors ER features hand rails that line walls, anti-slip flooring, color-coded directions for ease of navigation as well as furniture and amenities made for senior use. Every bed area has a heated blanket, caregiver seating and a comfortable mattress. Room lighting is softer, the colors are muted and assistive tools are in place for easier reading of any medical paperwork. "We genuinely care about our older patients, and I'm proud to be part of the first hospital in this area to offer an ER just for seniors. We want our older patients and their caregivers to feel safe, relaxed and comfortable especially in a hospital environment. It is my hope our new Seniors ER will do just that," concluded Dr. John Jones, Medical Director of Baton Rouge General's Emergency Department.

Channel: Nonprofit

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