Cedars-Sinai Earns Highest Accreditation for Geriatric Emergency Care

Cedars-Sinai has earned Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians, the highest level of recognition awarded to emergency medicine facilities that demonstrate excellence in caring for older adults.

The designation recognizes emergency departments with specialized expertise, staffing and resources for patients 65 and older, who represent about one-third of all patients treated in Cedars-Sinai's Emergency Department each year.

"This recognition reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional, patient-centered emergency care for the older adults of our community," said Claude Stang, RN, executive director of the Cedars-Sinai Emergency Department. "As the No. 1 Medicare provider in California, we care for thousands of older adults every year, and we are dedicated to keeping them safe and healthy."

Accreditation reviewers cited several programs and features that distinguish Cedars-Sinai's approach to geriatric emergency care, including the Barry and Rena Plost Senior Emergency Center within the Emergency Department.

"We try to place patients who would benefit from a quieter environment in our senior care unit, where private rooms, dim lighting and reduced noise can help minimize delirium for patients who are susceptible," Stang said. "Those seemingly small changes can make a meaningful difference for older adults in the Emergency Department."

Other components highlighted by reviewers included:

• A specialized geriatric nurse assessment team, trained to identify delirium, dementia, fall risk and social determinants of health.
• Integrated physical therapy and pharmacy services, including prescription medication screening, review and reconciliation.
• Senior-friendly amenities, including reserved reclining chairs in the waiting area, improved signage and lighting, handrails, and accessible bathrooms.
• Tender Loving Care volunteers, who are specially trained to provide companionship and comfort for older adult patients.
• A physician who leads ongoing education on geriatric emergency care for physicians and physician assistants.

Level 1 accreditation builds on Cedars-Sinai's broader commitment to age-friendly care. The health system also has been named an Age-Friendly Health System Committed to Care Excellence, a recognition from The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States.

"Older adults often have unique medical and social needs that require a different approach to emergency care, that centers around the 4M's (What Matters Most, Mobility, Medications and Mentation) of age-friendly care," said Sonja Rosen, MD, chief, Section of Geriatric Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. "As an Age-Friendly Health System, every member of our team plays an important role in ensuring patients receive compassionate, specialized attention from the moment they arrive through a seamless transition to the next stage of their recovery."

The Emergency Department's research team also has been active in advancing geriatrics research, publishing on sepsis, brain injury, cardiac biomarkers and observation care. The work helps to inform evidence-based practices that further strengthen care for older adults.

Emergency Department Expansion Underway

The accreditation comes as Cedars-Sinai continues a major expansion of its Emergency Department, an investment designed to increase capacity while supporting the specialized care needs of a growing patient population.

The project will add 16,550 square feet to the department and increase the number of care spaces from 60 to 100.

Sam Torbati, MD, chair and medical director of the Emergency Department, said the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.

"Smaller improvements, such as a new laboratory, are expected to open this fall," Torbati said. "Patients will begin to see more significant changes next summer."

The first major phase will add 15 acute care beds, eight behavioral health beds to treat patients with mental health needs, six critical care and trauma beds, and a dedicated room designed to care for critically ill children. The expansion also will include new waiting areas, an updated triage space and a redesigned patient entrance to improve capacity and the overall care experience.

"Demand for emergency care continues to grow, and we're committed to finding new ways to improve the experience and quality of care for our patients," Torbati said. "The expansion is a significant investment in meeting those needs."

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