Roger Williams Medical Center - Senior-Friendly Emergency Departments

It has been two years since Roger Williams Medical Center and Fatima Hospital â€“ both part of the CharterCARE system â€“ opened the stateâ€™s first senior-friendly emergency departments (EDs). Both departments underwent physical renovations and modifications, while staff received enhanced training and assessment tools. A multi-disciplinary team now performs assessments to gauge whether patients have poly-pharmacy issues, are at risk for falls or suffer from ailments like dementia and depression.

What is it?

It has been two years since Roger Williams Medical Center and Fatima Hospital – both part of the CharterCARE system – opened the state’s first senior-friendly emergency departments (EDs). Both departments underwent physical renovations and modifications, while staff received enhanced training and assessment tools. A multi-disciplinary team now performs assessments to gauge whether patients have poly-pharmacy issues, are at risk for falls or suffer from ailments like dementia and depression.

Who is it for?

Emergency patients 65 years of age and older.

Why do they do it?

One in five Rhode Island residents will be 65 or older by 2030.

Impact

From July 2012 to March 2013, the overall rating mean average given by patients 65 and over in the ED at Roger Williams was 84 percent; the average at Fatima was 83.7 percent. From April 2013 to October 2015, following implementation of the senior-friendly ED at both hospitals, Roger Williams’ average increased to 86.3 percent and Fatima’s average rose to 86.5 percent.

Contact: Kimberly O’Connell
President
Telephone: 401-456-2000
Email: koconnell@chartercare.org

Community Partnerships

Patient and Family Education/Engagement

Community Connections