It wasn’t all about St. Patrick’s Day this March 17th at North Fulton Hospital; in addition to commemorating the Day of Green, North Fulton Hospital celebrated the Grand Opening of its Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit. The event kicked off with a press conference followed by a ribbon cutting, reception, and guided tours of the wing.
People throughout the North Fulton community attended the event in support of North Fulton Hospital’s senior initiative. Attendees included Roswell Mayor Jere Wood, Alpharetta Mayor Arthur Letchas, members of North Fulton Hospital’s Board of Directors, and many who are employed in the senior industry; all came because they recognize the need for quality senior care in the North Fulton area.
ACE is a model of inpatient care for the older adult that seeks to avoid complications and maintain the level of baseline function prior to hospitalization. Those 65 years of age and older makes up 30-40% of hospital admissions and about half of all hospital days. This unit serves to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for these individuals so that they can more easily return to their home environments.
In the fall of 2008, North Fulton Hospital formulated a plan to develop a comprehensive senior program, catering to the needs of its growing population of older adults within its service area. Based on recent demographic data, the hospital recognized the rapid growth rate in this population:
In the US by 2030:
Ø There will be 71 million American older adults (65 plus) accounting for 20% of the US population
Ø National healthcare spending is projected to increase by 25% due to these demographic shifts (current)
Ø Currently 80% of older Americans are living with at least one chronic condition
Ø Growth of the US senior population continues:
v 1900: less than 5% of the US population
v 2002: 12.4% of the population
v 2030: 20% of the US population
Source: Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Facility Needs for Seniors in the 21st Century; Merck Company Foundation; CDC
Within the hospital’s service area, the 55+ age demographic has the most significant growth. With this rapidly growing population and the increasing volume of senior living communities in the North Fulton service area (now more than 20 in number), North Fulton Hospital considered this initiative a top priority.
The ACE Unit is but one component of the comprehensive senior program at North Fulton Hospital. The hospital has also instituted a Care Transitions Task Force, which is a monthly meeting of clinical leaders in the senior industry that seeks to enhance the quality of care provided to senior patients and streamline the patient transition process between hospital and home environment. Over 70 physicians have also committed to being a part of the Senior Care Network. This network of doctors includes only those who (a) will see new Medicare patients and (b) will agree to see new patients within 48 hours of an initial inquiry, helping to remedy the issue of accessibility.
For more information on Senior Services at North Fulton Hospital, please visit www.nfultonhospital.com. To locate a physician in the Senior Care Network, please call 1-888-333-5665.
North Fulton Hospital (NFH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 202-bed, acute-care hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell. Opened in 1983, NFH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of over 1000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers. NFH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, bariatric surgical weight loss, gastroenterology and oncology. The hospital is fully accredited and also is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.
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