Pragmatism and feasibility: A qualitative study of experiences implementing and upgrading care in geriatric emergency departments

Abstract Objectives Implementation and sustainability of new care processes in emergency departments (EDs) is difficult. We describe experiences of implementing geriatric care processes in EDs that upgraded their accreditation level for the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) program...

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Main Authors: Anita Chary, Annika Bhananker, Vivian Ramont, Lauren Southerland, Aanand Naik, Kyler Godwin, Maura Kennedy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-08-01
Series:Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13216
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author Anita Chary
Annika Bhananker
Vivian Ramont
Lauren Southerland
Aanand Naik
Kyler Godwin
Maura Kennedy
author_facet Anita Chary
Annika Bhananker
Vivian Ramont
Lauren Southerland
Aanand Naik
Kyler Godwin
Maura Kennedy
author_sort Anita Chary
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives Implementation and sustainability of new care processes in emergency departments (EDs) is difficult. We describe experiences of implementing geriatric care processes in EDs that upgraded their accreditation level for the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) program. These EDs can provide a model for adopting and sustaining guidelines for evidence‐based geriatric care. Methods We performed qualitative interviews with geriatric ED nurse and physician leaders overseeing their ED's geriatric accreditation processes. The interview guide was based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), a framework consisting of a comprehensive set of factors that impact implementation of evidence‐based interventions. We used inductive analysis to elucidate key themes from interviews and deductive analysis to map themes onto CFIR constructs. Results Clinician leaders from 15 of 19 EDs that upgraded accreditation status by March 1, 2023 participated in interviews. Motivations to upgrade accreditation level centered on improving patient care (73%) and achieving recognition (56%). Rationales for choosing specific care processes were more commonly related to feasibility (40%) and ability to integrate the processes into the electronic health record (33%) than to site‐specific patient needs (20%). Several common experiences in implementation were identified: (1) financing from the larger health system or philanthropy was crucial; (2) translating the Geriatric ED Guidelines into clinical practice was challenging for clinician leaders; (3) motivational barriers existed among frontline ED staff; (4) longitudinal staff education was needed given frontline ED staff attrition and turnover; and (5) the electronic health record facilitated implementation of geriatric screenings. Conclusions Geriatric ED accreditation involves significant time, resource allocation, and longitudinal staff commitment. EDs pursuing geriatric accreditation balance aspirations to improve patient care with resource availability to implement new care processes and competing priorities.
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spelling doaj-art-12cc75ee1e874432b68c635823e67b0e2025-08-20T03:03:44ZengElsevierJournal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open2688-11522024-08-0154n/an/a10.1002/emp2.13216Pragmatism and feasibility: A qualitative study of experiences implementing and upgrading care in geriatric emergency departmentsAnita Chary0Annika Bhananker1Vivian Ramont2Lauren Southerland3Aanand Naik4Kyler Godwin5Maura Kennedy6Department of Emergency Medicine Baylor College of Medicine Houston Texas USACenter for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Houston Texas USACenter for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Houston Texas USADeparment of Emergency Medicine The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio USACenter for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Houston Texas USADepartment of Medicine Baylor College of Medicine Houston Texas USAInstitute on Aging UT Health Science Center Houston Texas USAAbstract Objectives Implementation and sustainability of new care processes in emergency departments (EDs) is difficult. We describe experiences of implementing geriatric care processes in EDs that upgraded their accreditation level for the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) program. These EDs can provide a model for adopting and sustaining guidelines for evidence‐based geriatric care. Methods We performed qualitative interviews with geriatric ED nurse and physician leaders overseeing their ED's geriatric accreditation processes. The interview guide was based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), a framework consisting of a comprehensive set of factors that impact implementation of evidence‐based interventions. We used inductive analysis to elucidate key themes from interviews and deductive analysis to map themes onto CFIR constructs. Results Clinician leaders from 15 of 19 EDs that upgraded accreditation status by March 1, 2023 participated in interviews. Motivations to upgrade accreditation level centered on improving patient care (73%) and achieving recognition (56%). Rationales for choosing specific care processes were more commonly related to feasibility (40%) and ability to integrate the processes into the electronic health record (33%) than to site‐specific patient needs (20%). Several common experiences in implementation were identified: (1) financing from the larger health system or philanthropy was crucial; (2) translating the Geriatric ED Guidelines into clinical practice was challenging for clinician leaders; (3) motivational barriers existed among frontline ED staff; (4) longitudinal staff education was needed given frontline ED staff attrition and turnover; and (5) the electronic health record facilitated implementation of geriatric screenings. Conclusions Geriatric ED accreditation involves significant time, resource allocation, and longitudinal staff commitment. EDs pursuing geriatric accreditation balance aspirations to improve patient care with resource availability to implement new care processes and competing priorities.https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13216emergency medicinegeriatric emergency department accreditationgeriatricsimplementation sciencequalitativescreening
spellingShingle Anita Chary
Annika Bhananker
Vivian Ramont
Lauren Southerland
Aanand Naik
Kyler Godwin
Maura Kennedy
Pragmatism and feasibility: A qualitative study of experiences implementing and upgrading care in geriatric emergency departments
Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
emergency medicine
geriatric emergency department accreditation
geriatrics
implementation science
qualitative
screening
title Pragmatism and feasibility: A qualitative study of experiences implementing and upgrading care in geriatric emergency departments
title_full Pragmatism and feasibility: A qualitative study of experiences implementing and upgrading care in geriatric emergency departments
title_fullStr Pragmatism and feasibility: A qualitative study of experiences implementing and upgrading care in geriatric emergency departments
title_full_unstemmed Pragmatism and feasibility: A qualitative study of experiences implementing and upgrading care in geriatric emergency departments
title_short Pragmatism and feasibility: A qualitative study of experiences implementing and upgrading care in geriatric emergency departments
title_sort pragmatism and feasibility a qualitative study of experiences implementing and upgrading care in geriatric emergency departments
topic emergency medicine
geriatric emergency department accreditation
geriatrics
implementation science
qualitative
screening
url https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13216
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