The Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal is proud to announce that a new team has started working in the Emergency Department at St. Mary’s Hospital Center (SMHC). As of November 20, a specialized interdisciplinary geriatrics team is there to receive visitors aged 75 years and older.
The addition of such a team in the Emergency Department brings a number of benefits. These include:
- rapid and comprehensive care for seniors who come to the Emergency Department;
- better fluidity and an improved trajectory for users aged 75 years and older;
- avoiding hospitalizations through referrals to other resources;
- integrating best practices in senior care;
- optimizing the use of our care and service resources.
“It’s important to acknowledge the vision that geriatricians Dr. Julia Chabot and Dr. Shekhong Fung had in setting up this great initiative, as concerns the importance of providing quality health care for our seniors,” said Fabienne Germeil, Associate Director, Nursing—Access to Hospitalization and the director responsible for cancer, palliative and end-of-life care.
This interdisciplinary team includes a nurse clinician, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, and a social worker. Geriatricians and pharmacists will also be part of this professional team.
Having this team available will allow the Emergency Department staff to focus on its primary mission, which is to manage acute and severe medical problems. Seniors often go to the Emergency Department for subacute, chronic or low intensity health problems. For example, in 2022–2023, 36.30% of the patients admitted to the Emergency Department at SMHC were aged 75 years and older.
“This project is the result of great collaboration between several directorates, and the Support for Elderly Autonomy Program Directorate—Home Support, is proud to have played a role. It means we can provide adapted and proactive services to seniors coming to the Emergency Department at St. Mary’s Hospital Center,” adds Magdalena Blaise, interim Associate Director of the Support for Elderly Autonomy Program Directorate—Clinical.
Thank you to the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation, who provided financial support for the launch of this inspiring project.