Enhanced Skills Program: Care of the Elderly Emergency Rotation Goals and Objectives

By the end of the rotation, the resident will be able to:

Performs a rapid, highly focused geriatric assessment, including all parameters appropriate to the acute care setting.
Demonstrates comprehensive assessment and management of common and complex geriatric syndromes frequently seen in the emergency department (i.e. falls, dementia, delirium, incontinence, constipation, generalized weakness, frailty).
Identifies relevant priorities for management based on the patient’s perspective, urgency and context.
Diagnoses delirium, formulate a differential for potential causes and develops initial plans for evaluation and management.
Identifies and participates in efforts to reduce potential hazards of hospitalization (i.e. delirium, falls, immobility, pressure ulcers, medication-related adverse effects).
Demonstrate an organized approach to the patient who has fallen, including the ability to identify precipitating causes, focused physical examination, appropriate investigations and management plan.

Develops rapport, trust and ethical therapeutic relationships with patients and families.

Accurately elicits and synthesizes information from, and perspectives of, colleagues, community practitioners, pharmacists, long-term care staff, CCAC staff, paramedics and other professionals.
Participates in a collaborative inter-professional emergency department team.
Understands, recognizes and respects the diversity of roles, responsibilities and competencies of other professionals in relation to their own. Respects differences, misunderstandings and limitations in oneself and other professionals.
Work with others to assess, plan, provide and integrate care for complex patients presenting in the emergency department.
Maintains a positive working environment with consulting health professionals, health care team members, and community agencies.
Engages patients and their families as active participants in their care.

Makes cost-effective use of health care resources based on sound judgement, balancing resources to maximize benefits to all patients, including managing patient flow.
Effectively contributes to the health care team; delegates and distributes tasks fairly; uses time wisely.
Demonstrates time management skills to reflect and balance priorities for patient care, sustainable practice, and personal life.

Respond to individual patient health needs and issues as part of patient care. Advocates for individual patients around relevant health matters that arise in the emergency department.

Critically evaluates medical information, its sources and its relevance to their practice and apply this information to practice decisions in the care of elderly in the emergency department.

Demonstrates a commitment to reflective practice (personal performance, knowing limits, awareness of self, reflect on practice events).