Senior Emergency Rooms:Building a Care System for our

Senior Adult PatientsDebra Steveson, BSN

Objectives

• Describe the reasons for a senior emergency room

• Explain the special components of care in a senior emergency room

• Discuss the evidence on which the senior emergency room is based

• Discuss current issues with drug utilization in the elderly

• Relate information presented to a patient case

Last year was the first year the Baby Boomers hit the market. Are we prepared for this new adventure in healthcare? We have two choices at this juncture in the road: we can simply hang on and hope the ride is not too bumpy or we can help drive the process….

“The Little Boy and the Old Man” – Shel Silverstein

Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."Said the old man, "I do that too."

The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."I do that too," laughed the little old man.

Said the little boy, "I often cry."The old man nodded, "So do I."

But worst of all," said the boy, "it seemsGrown-ups don't pay attention to me."

And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.I know what you mean," said the little old man.”

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services2011

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 20500%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Older Population by Age: 1900-2050 - Percent 60+, Percent 65+, and 85+

% 60+ % 65+ % 85+

Quick FactsExempla hospitals

• Lutheran Medical Center’s ED population - 21% are greater than 65 years of age

• St. Joseph’s ED population – 37% are 65 or older

• Good Samaritan Medical Center’s ED population – 29% are greater than 65 years of age

SENIOR ED PROJECT

EGSMC Primary Service Area (PSA) Statistics:• About 68,900 residents are age

65+, representing 9% of the population.

• Seniors in the PSA are estimated to generate 37,900 ED visits annually.*

• 65+ population is expected to grow 5% per year during the next five years, generating an additional 10,600 ED visits per year by 2017.*

• In five years, seniors will represent 12% of the total PSA population.

*Based on 550 ED visits per 1,000 population for residents age 65+ Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) 2008 Nationwide Emergency Department sample (NEDS) for Community Hospitals

Slide 7

Primary Service Area (PSA) where 75% of EGSMC Inpatients Reside

Seniors Represent Nearly 40% of the Total Population Growth between 2012 and 2017

Slide 8

Age 0-1423%Age 65 +

39%

Age 45-6436%

Age 15-241%

Age 25-441%

Source: Truven/Claritas, 75% 2010 Total PSAPop EGSMC Total SA by Age & Race 2012-17 vMetro.xls

CONFIDENTIALFor Internal Use Only

Patients age 65+ Represent 29% of Total EGSMC Emergency Department Visits

Slide 9

EGSMC ED Volume by Age GroupNovember 2012 YTD (11 Months)

5%4%

10%

14%

22%

6% 5%

17%

10%

7%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

<18 18-24 25-44 45-64 65+

Age Group

To

tal E

D V

isit

s (I

P a

nd

OP

)

KP

Community

Source: Decision Support, Trendstar Data (note, total ED visit volume of 36,766 is low er than the Budget Comparison Report f igure by 2.6%)EGSMC ED Graphs.xls

CONFIDENTIALFor Internal Use Only

29%

The U.S. population of adults 65+ is projected to double by 2050

U.S

. Pop

ulati

on 6

5+ in

mill

ions

• The challenge: Older adults use the ED more than any other age group.

• True or False?– Older adults use the ED more appropriately than

any other age group.

11

Why a Senior ER?

• The challenge: Older adults use the ED more than any other age group.

• True or False? – Older adults use the ED more appropriately than

any other age group.

12

Why a Senior ER?

• How can these two statements both be true? Seniors visit the ED more because they are sicker than all other age groups.

• The solution - we need a better continuum of care to be able to take care of these patients.

Senior Emergency Room:A unit or a paradigm shift

• Physical changes of aging• Psychosocial needs• Co-morbidities

• Direct support -Certified Nurses Aid -Volunteers

• Consultative Services -Palliative/Hospice Care -Geropsychiatry/Behavioral Health -PT/OT -Clinical Pharmacy

• Care Coordination -Senior ER Care Coordinator through KP and Exempla -Community Based Referral and Care Coordination Services

How Is It Different?Clinical Modifications

The Case of Gertrude Current ED Paradigm

• 82 year old female via EMS from home after a trip and fall on throw rug. No head trauma. Denies LOC. Complains of right hip pain

• Medical history: diabetes, a-fib, coronary artery disease, depression, chronic low back pain

• Social history: lives alone, daughter is out-of-state• Meds: coumadin, metformin, metoprolol, aspirin,

simvastatin, fluoxetine, hydrocodone/acetaminophin

The Case of GertrudeCurrent ED Paradigm

• Roomed next to suicidal, intoxicated patient• Initial vitals stable, complains of 5/10 hip pain• Initial exam: anxious, trouble following directions,

right forearm skin tear, right hip contusion• Medicated with 4mg IV morphine• X-ray of hip negative for fracture• Continues to be agitated and anxious; medicated

with 1mg IV ativan• Physical therapy consulted for exam

The Case of GertrudeCurrent ED Paradigm

• Physical therapy notes patient is difficult to arouse and confused

• Head CT ordered, results negative for bleed• Return from CT, oxygen sats low, placed on oxygen• Incontinent of urine, straight cath for UA and culture• Admitted secondary to altered mental status and

hypoxia• Treated for catheter associated UTI• Discharged to SNF for rehab after 2-day inpatient stay

Senior Emergency Room Goal

• Transform care for our senior population in the ER in a manner that improves the quality, safety, and coordination of care by providing:

• Safe, quiet, comfortable and supportive care environment• Screening for early identification of seniors at risk• Education for patients and family• Coordination and mobilization of appropriate post

discharge resources• Effective transition back into the community• Provider of choice for our senior population

EGSMC Senior ER Screening

19

ED RN

Screening 65+

Braden

Morse Fall

Abuse questions

ISAR 3 or above KATZ

PHQ2 Positive Notify ED & PCP

Mini-Cog Positive Notify ED & PCP

PT/OT referral

CAM Positive Notify ED & PCP

ED RN ED RN

Current Process

Current Process

Current Process

Disorders of Cognition

• Depression - disorder of mood• Dementia - multiple cognitive deficits that include memory disturbance• Delirium - disturbance in consciousness and cognition that develops acutely

Depression

• Serious illness• Not part of aging• Affects 3-5% of people over 65 years of age• Most common cause of unexplained weight

loss• Can be observed and measured

Delirium

• Acquired syndrome with altered level of alertness, attention and perception.

• Develops over short period of time• Fluctuates over course of the day• Sleep/awake cycle disturbance• Psychomotor• Mental status

Confusion Assessment Method

• Most widely accepted diagnostic instrument1) acute onset and fluctuating course2) inattention3) disorganized thinking4) altered level of consciousness• Diagnosis of delirium by CAM requires

presence of numbers 1 and 2 and either 3 or 4

Dementia

• Development of memory problems AND at least one additional cognitive deficit

- Aphasia - Apraxia - Agnosia

Stages of Dementia• Early Stage -Appropriate social conversation, but longer pauses -Tendency to wander off topic -Trouble recalling names of people or places or things • Middle Stage - Difficulty finding words - May have difficulty following directions -Reading may still be preserved• Late Stage - Unable to complete activities of daily living, totally dependent - Very limited, if any, communication - Does not recognize self or others - Facial expression no longer change – flat affect

Mini Cog

• 3 minute instrument to screen for cognitive impairment in older adults.

• Detects people with mild cognitive impairment, too mild to meet diagnostic criteria for dementia.– A 3 item recall test for memory– And a simply scored Clock-drawing test (CDT)

• Normal clock drawing- the patient places the correct time and the clock appears grossly normal

Mini Cog

• If patient answers incorrectly, do not correct the response, if the patient asks if the answer was correct, something like, “ that was pretty close” is sufficient.

• Do not provide any clues or hints to the correct answer

• Do not allow family or friends to provide hints.• What were the 3 words I asked you to

remember? The order of the words do not matter.

Mini Cog Scoring

• Number of correct items recalled____.• If 3 then negative screen. STOP• If number of correct items recalled is 1-2• Is Clock Drawing Test abnormal? -no then screen is negative - yes with an abnormal Clock Drawing then the screen is positive

Notify ED physician

Case Review• 68-yr-old female presents to ED, referred by residential

assisted living facility. - was in the dining room of the facility wearing only a bed

sheet, claiming that she was the Virgin Mary and that somebody had kidnapped baby Jesus.

- In the ambulance on the way to the ED, patient abruptly fell asleep and when she woke up didn’t know who or where she was.

- has history of mild dementia and depression.• How would you go about differentiating dementia/delirium/depression? • How would you communicate and care for this patient?• What would you communicate to the attending physician?

Greatest Issues to aging• Loosing Family Members, Friends, • Loss Of Mobility• Loss Of Drivers License • Boomers Caring For Parents• Parents In Nursing Homes• Decrease In Reimbursement • Family Changes• Retirement• Widowhood• Declining Physical Reserves • Changes In Income • Shrinking Social World For Some

Benefits of aging

• Peace Comes With Age– Just being able to feel at peace with myself and the world.

Staying healthy is a good way to ensure a good quality of life for the long term.

• Retirement• Time • Discounts • Grandchildren• Financial Stability? • Lack Of Urgency (not bladder related!)

Normal changes of aging

• Vision• Hearing• Smell and Taste• Touch• Communication

Vision

• Macular Degeneration• Cataracts• Glaucoma• Diabetic Retinopathy• Hemianopsia

Myths of aging

• Old people are sick and disabled• Most are in nursing homes• Senility comes with old age• Old people are unhappy• Old people get very tranquil or very cranky• No interest in sex and can’t have it anyway• Few satisfactions in old age• By age 70 psychological growth is complete

Biases

• Bias in Providing Preventive Care– Older adults are often excluded from disease screening

tests. As a result, diseases are diagnosed when they have reached their later stages, therefore treatment becomes expensive.

– Part Of Their Social History. • Dr.’s Are For Sickness• Lack Of Funding

• Bias From Lack Of Geriatric Training• Gap In Primary Care Availability • Medical Intervention• Training For Nursing

Different approach to senior adults

• Triage interview• Assessment - slower response to questions - listen to entire answer - more history, medications, and allergies - seek treatment later

Assessment and Interventions

• A – I - different approach - different challenges - safety considerations• M – O• Atypical presentations• Therapies that could aggravate

Special considerations

• Pain• Skin care• Sexuality• Abuse

Skin Care in the Senior Adult

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Abuse in the Senior Adult population

• True or False

• The majority of maltreatment of seniors occur in SNF.• Sexual and physical abuse are the most common.• Colorado does not have mandatory reporting of senior abuse.• Interview of the abused senior should never occur apart from

the caregiver.

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Medication considerations

• Beers criteria - Identifies medications and drug classes that are potentially inappropriate based on best available studies. - Lists medications that exacerbate common disease states in the elderly - Lists medications that increase delirium and altered mental status - Reports medications that have been statistically associated with falls.

Beware of Drug-Drug Interactions

• Chance of DDI nearly 100% with 8 or more drugs1

• Almost 50% of community-dwelling geriatric patients had at least one DDI2

• DDI can result in ADR or suboptimal dosing• >80% of computerized DDI alerts ignored3

1Sloan RW. Drug Interactions. Am Fam Physician 1983; 27:229-38.

NSAIDS and the elderly• Congestive Heart Failure:

– 10-fold increased risk of CHF exacerbation requiring hospitalization in elderly

• Chronic Kidney Disease:– Most nephrologists recommend avoiding NSAIDs when CrCl <60

ml/min (Stage 3 CKD)• GI Bleed:

– ↑bleeding risk: • Age>60• Concurrent anticoagulants• Prior ulcer or hemorrhage• Concurrent steroids

• ↑ bleeding risk correlates with↑duration of use!

Renal considerations

• Morphine• Methadone• Digoxin• Bactrim• Ciprofloxacin• Levofloxacin• Nitrofurantoin• Acyclovir• Famciclovir• Colchicine

• Gabapentin• Metoclopramide• Glyburide• Enoxaparin (Lovenox)• Fondaparinux (Arixtra)• Metformin• Thiazide diuretics• NSAIDs• Spironolactione• Bisphosphonates (ie.

Alendronate)

Pain management in the elderly

• Increased risk of adverse effects due to increased sensitivity to opioids– Sedation, confusion, delirium, constipation, pruritus,

nausea• Recommendations:

– “Start low, go slow”– Manage fears, expectations– Avoid long-acting opioids unless chronic pain in opioid-tolerant patient– Treat “incident” pain with short-acting agents– Use only ONE agent– Prescribe laxatives (senna, bisacodyl)– NEVER use meperidine (Demerol)

Drugs and Delirium in the Elderly• Anticholinergics (oxybutynin)

• TCAs (amitriptyline)

• Antipsychotics • Antihistamines (Tylenol PM)

• H2 blockers• Opioids (MS Contin)

• Digoxin (dose > 0.25mg/d)

• Antihypertensives (hypotension)

• Alcohol• Benzodiazepines (diazepam)

• Antiparkinsonian drugs• Antibiotics• Corticosteroids

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Combining these drugs can have additive / synergistic effects!

Drugs and Falls in the Elderly

• Anticholinergics (oxybutynin, amitriptyline)

– Visual changes, sedation• Anticonvulsants

– Ataxia, sedation• Alcohol, aminoglycosides, loop diuretics, high-dose ASA

– Vestibular dysfunction (balance/posture)• Benzodiazepines (diazepam), antihistamines (Tylenol PM), opioids

(MS Contin)

– Cerebral impairment - leading to instability and sedation

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Medication List for 80 year old • Diazepam 5mg Q8H

prn• Metformin 1,000mg

BID• Lisinopril 10mg QD• Metoprolol 50mg BID• Warfarin 2mg QD• Simvastatin 40mg QHS• Oxybutynin 5mg Q8H

• Amitriptyline 75mg QHS

• MS Contin 15mg Q8H• Tylenol PM QHS• Alendronate 70mg

QOW• Calcium + VitD BID• Digoxin 0.25mg QD

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Suggestions for management

• Discontinue Tylenol PM, consider trazodone 25mg QHS as needed

• Taper diazepam – start with reducing to 5mg Q12H• Decrease digoxin to 0.125 mg daily• Adjust HTN medications (HR / BP low – orthostatic risk)• Discontinue Metformin, consider low-dose Glipizide• Change MS Contin to fentanyl 12.5 mcg Q72H and add Senna• Add oxycodone IR 5 mg Q6H prn for knee pain• Change amitriptyline to nortriptyline and decrease dose to

20mg QHS

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How do we keep up?

Point-of-care medication list including:– Herbals and Supplements– Over-the-counter Medications– “As Needed” Medications– Date/time of last dose taken– Vaccination History– Drug/food Allergies

Sometimes it may be necessary to contact SNFs, Nursing homes, outpatient pharmacies, or family members if patient has altered mental status or does not know what is being taken

References

• ENA• AARP www.aarp.org • Administration on Aging - www.aoa.gov • Independent Sector - www.independentsector.org • National Council on Aging (NCOA) - www.ncoa.org • Senior Corps - www.seniorcorps.org

Questions?