The GAP-ED Project: Improving Care for Elderly Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department

Older adults presenting to the emergency department (ED) represent a highly vulnerable patient population with complex conditions and multiple comorbidities. The introduction of a Geriatric and Palliative (GAP)-ED partnership may be an effective strategy to avoid unneeded admissions and improve outcomes for this population.

The primary objective was to decrease 30-day revisit and hospitalization rates in this population through identifying patients that could be safely sent home with connection to community resources. Secondary outcomes included achieving high patient and family satisfaction scores assessed through follow-up interviews.

The GAP-ED intervention included the placement of a Specialist in the ED to coordinate care for older adults presenting to the ED who were likely to be discharged home. Independent t-tests and chi-squared tests were used to assess for changes in outcomes between the intervention group and a blocked matched historical usual-care group.

There was no significant difference in 30-day ED revisits between the two groups, but there was a statistically significant reduction in hospital admissions from these 30-day revisits. Patient and family satisfaction with the presence of the GAP-ED Specialist was high.

The implementation of a GAP-ED partnership and use of a GAP-ED Specialist is an effective means of reducing hospitalization in older adults revisiting the ED.