Acute Care For The Eldery (ACE)

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ACUTE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY (ACE)

Saint Anthony Hospital, Chicago, has an Acute Care for the Elderly Unit, (ACE). This unit provides care for geriatric medical surgical patients, highlighting the specific needs of seniors, ages 65 and older that require hospitalization.

A hospital stay can trigger a downward progression in a senior’s independence and the goal of the ACE program is to improve or maintain the individual’s independence and to return him/her to their original residence.

The focus on geriatrics is coordinated through a Nurse Practitioner (NP) who works with the attending physician and a multidisciplinary team to emphasize the individual needs of each senior. The multidisciplinary teams consist of physicians, nursing, PT, OT, Speech, Nutrition, Pharmacy, chaplaincy, social work and case management.

The (NP) uses a collaborative approach to better understand the physiologic, cognitive, psychosocial, functional, financial, and behavioral needs of the older patients.

Some of the benefits of the ACE program include but are not limited to the following:

Preventing functional decline in the elderly patient
A review of medical care to minimize the unfavorable consequences of test and procedures
Reduce length of stay, early re-hospitalization and discharge to long term care facilities
Provide educational in-services for nursing staff
Completion of History & Physical on ACE patients within 24 hours of admission

For More Information
For more information about this program, please call (773) 484-1000.