Author:
Heeren Pieter,Islam Farah,Desruelles Didier,Flamaing Johan,Sabbe Marc,Milisen Koen,Heerinckx Philippe,Hubloue Ives,Tran Tuan Long,Wynants Stefan,Ghekière Veronique,De Brauwer Isabelle,Beernaert Laetitia,Cristelbach Sophie,Guldemont Sven,Lumen Dieter,Sohet Sebastien,Bogaerts Emilie,Himschoot Nadja,Michaux Nicole,Dath Mayelise,Biets Robin,Piron Cecile,Van den Heede Koen,Vande Voorde Carine,Ricour Celine,
Abstract
Abstract
Background
As emergency department (ED) leaders started integrating geriatric emergency guidelines on a facultative basis, important variations have emerged between EDs in care for older patients. The aim of this study was to establish a consensus on minimum operational standards for Geriatric ED care in Belgium.
Methods
A two-stage modified Delphi study was conducted. Twenty panellists were recruited from Dutch and French speaking regions in Belgium to join an interdisciplinary expert panel. In the first stage, an online survey was conducted to identify and define all possible elements of geriatric emergency care. In the second stage, an online survey and online expert panel meeting were organized consecutively to determine which elements should be recognized as minimum operational standards.
Results
Between March 2020 and February 2021, the expert panel developed a broad consensus including ten statements focusing on the target population, specific goals, availability of geriatric practitioners and quality assurance. Additionally, the expert panel also determined which protocols, materials and accommodation criteria should be available in conventional EDs (39 standards) and in observational EDs (57 standards).
Conclusions
This study presents a consensus on minimum operational standards for geriatric emergency care in two ED types: the conventional ED and the observational ED. These findings may serve as a starting point towards broadly supported minimum standards of care stipulated by legislation in Belgium or other countries.
Funder
Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
KU Leuven
Horizon 2020
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Geriatrics and Gerontology