Geriatric emergency unit planned for Upstate's Community Campus
With that in mind, Upstate is creating a new Geriatric Emergency Medicine Unit called GEM Care. The unit, led by emergency physician James Ciaccio MD, will open by early summer in a dedicated section of the emergency department at Upstate University Hospital at Community. Proceeds from the 2012 Upstate Gala will help fund its development.
Details are being worked out, but GEM Care will be characterized by a calm, measured approach to care in a quiet environment. Clocks will have larger, more visible numbers. Rails will line the walls, floors will be nonskid, paint colors will be soothing, and mattresses will be thicker. Most important, staff working in the unit will be specially trained to treat patients 60+, address their unique sociological and psychological needs--and the concerns of their families--and ultimately make their emergency stay as stress-free as possible.