Cottage Health Emergency Departments Earn Silver-Level Reaccreditation for Senior Emergency Care
The emergency departments in Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Santa Ynez Valley have been reaccredited as Geriatric Emergency Departments by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). The three-year Silver Level 2 designation builds on initial accreditation in 2021. Fewer than 130 emergency departments nationwide hold a Level 2 or higher accreditation.
ACEP’s Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation program establishes standards for addressing the needs of adults 65 and older during emergency medical situations. Criteria include geriatric-friendly equipment, social support resources, cognitive health assessment for brain health, mobility assessments, medication management and a focus on patient-centered priorities.
“An emergency department visit for an older patient often brings about significant life changes that require attention beyond treating the immediate illness or injury,” said Dr. Patrick Glynn, an emergency medicine physician at Cottage Health. “Our team works together across specialties to address urgent needs and ensure older patients have the right support to stay safe and well after their visit.”
Approximately one-third of patients seeking emergency care at Cottage are 65 or older. Common age-related concerns include falls, confusion, weakness and complications related to medications.
Cottage emergency department teams include physicians, nurses, case managers, social workers, pharmacists, physical therapists and emergency medical technicians. Together, they implement evidence-based practices and pragmatic solutions to address the challenges older adults face during medical emergencies. Emergency department staff collaborate with inpatient, outpatient and emergency medical services partners to help geriatric patients return home safely or transition to higher levels of care when needed. Cottage Health’s three emergency departments are open 24/7 and located in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley.
