Wesley Medical Center Introduces "Senior Track" - Pine Belt’s First Emergency Care Tailored for Seniors

12/30/2013

Wesley Medical Center is introducing a unique emergency room designed to meet the needs of senior patients. Wesley’s ER "Senior-Track" is designed to provide high quality care with the special needs of a rapidly growing population segment in mind.

Seniors generally come to the Emergency Room with complex health issues. In addition, they visit the ER more frequently and their needs are very different from younger patients. With a specially trained staff and a dedicated space for seniors, Wesley Emergency Services is committed to evolving with the needs of the population.

"We launched the Senior Track because we know that an emergency can be stressful and we wanted to do everything we could to reduce to anxiety associated with a trip to the hospital," said Mike Neuendorf, CEO for Wesley Medical Center.

In order to create a calming atmosphere, Wesley has redesigned a section of the Emergency Room with softer lighting, a separate waiting area and noise reduction features. Additionally, Wesley Medical Center earned the designation of being named a NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) site. To achieve this recognition, Wesley ER staff went through extensive training and evaluation of their care for older patients.

"Seniors in the ER sometimes have symptoms that can be a sign of a more serious illness," said Dixie Norris, Emergency Services Manager. "Our team of specially trained staff is attuned to the more subtle cues that can point to the need for immediate medical attention. We’re providing highly targeted care and enhancing the services we offer in order to keep them healthier in the long-term."

Wesley's Senior Track area features:

• The area's only designated NICHE facility.
• Private patient rooms designed for seniors with:
  • Special beds with thick, soft mattresses.
  • Noise reduction features
  • Softer lighting
  • Soothing room colors
  • Easy to operate call button
  • Simple to use TV remote
• Separate, private waiting area with comfortable seating and surroundings
• Stability/Mobility assessments
• Dedicated wheelchairs for easy transportation
• Help with discharge planning to foster the continuum of care

About Wesley Medical Center
Wesley Medical Center is committed to providing superior care to the Pine Belt and has been recognized for patient safety and top performance on key quality measures. Wesley is the area’s first and only accredited Chest Pain Center and is the only area hospital to be accredited for Heart Failure care. For more information, call (601) 268-8000.

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