Age-Friendly Health Systems – Your Chance to Join the Movement
Join the next Age-Friendly Health Systems informational call tomorrow 3/6 at 2pm ET to learn how your health care team can participate in the next Age-Friendly Health Systems Action Community starting April 1.
As the number of older adults doubles in the United States, health systems are recognizing that this population is the core business of hospitals, home health care, skilled nursing facilities, post-acute rehabilitation, primary and specialty care. Based on the demographic imperative, leading-edge health systems are becoming Age-Friendly Health Systems.
Today, 73 health systems (at 131 sites of care in 36 states) are implementing the Age-Friendly Health Systems’ evidence-based approach. These health systems are measurably improving care while addressing what matters to their older patients. Participating health systems are reporting positive outcomes in areas such as improving mobility, decreasing falls, preventing and identifying delirium, and reducing inappropriate medications and polypharmacy. By asking and acting on what matters to their older adult patients, health systems are also reporting significant improvements in patient satisfaction.
Will your health system be part of the Age-Friendly movement?
In April 2019, we will launch the next Age-Friendly Health Systems “Action Community.” This free seven-month learning collaborative is funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation and led by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).
How Age-Friendly is your health system?
You can take the 4Ms Framework Baseline Assessment to see how well your health system is addressing the care of older adults. To access the assessment, click HERE.
Age-Friendly Health Systems – What you should know
The Age-Friendly Health Systems movement started in 2016 with funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation. The initiative is led by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States. Five pioneering health systems co-designed and tested the framework (Ascension, Trinity Health, Providence St. Joseph Health, Kaiser Permanente and Anne Arundel Medical Center).
The Age-Friendly Health Systems approach was designed with leading experts and leading-edge health systems to address the common causes of avoidable harms in older adults. The Age-Friendly Health Systems framework is based on an evidence-based set known as the “4Ms” which together reduce harms and improve health outcomes while focusing on what matters most to older adults.
The “4Ms” are:
- What Matters - Know and align care with each older adult’s specific health outcome goals and care preferences including, but not limited to, end-of-life, and across settings of care.
- Medication - If medication is necessary, use Age-Friendly medications that do not interfere with What Matters to the older adult, Mobility, or Mentation across settings of care.
- Mentation - Prevent, identify, treat, and manage dementia, depression, and delirium across care settings.
- Mobility - Ensure that older adults move safely every day in order to maintain function and do What Matters.
Spring is the season for rebirth and renewal. In health care, we must continually prepare for the seasons ahead, and the needs of a growing population of vulnerable elders. This Spring (April 2019) you have the opportunity to become an Age-Friendly Health System and improve care for the older adults in your community.
To learn more or to register for the Age-Friendly Health Systems’ Action Community, go to: www.ihi.org/agefriendly.
|
