SCGH Opens New Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Unit

16 September 2011

One of the founders of geriatric medicine in Australia has officially opened Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital’s new Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Unit.

The fourteen bed ward is expected to assist the Hospital with patient flow and adherence to Four Hour Rule benchmarks, as well as improve the quality of care for these patients.

In 2011/12 the GEM Unit will receive almost $4 million in funding by the State and Commonwealth. It will admit elderly medically stable patients for comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment and treatment, with an emphasis on promoting independence by providing early access to rehabilitation.

Dr Kate Ingram, consultant geriatrician and medical head of the GEM Unit, says the Unit aims to ensure elderly frail patients are more independent, and thus safer upon hospital discharge. 

“This is quite a novel approach to patient care in that the nurses are asked to hold back and encourage patients to do as much for themselves as possible,” she said.

“We allow them to practise the skills they will need to do on a regular basis when they are back at home, for example the patients get dressed and walk to a dining room for meals.”

“Our strengths are that we comprehensively assess frail vulnerable elderly patients, provide them with short term rehabilitation, and put in place follow up support systems for when they are discharged from hospital.”
 
The establishment of GEM units was identified as a key priority for funding in the National Partnership Agreement WA Subacute care plan 2009- 2013, and SCGH named 'Care of the Older Patient' as one of its care and strategic objectives for the next five years.

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