The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has rolled out the new ‘Age Friendly Hospital Measure’, which is set to take effect on 01 January next year.
Spearheaded by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the effort aims to elevate the quality of care for older adult patients across five critical areas.
The new measure has been led by ACS in close coordination with the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), along with The John A. Hartford Foundation’s backing.
Hospitals enrolled in the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program will be mandated to report their adherence to this measure.
Non-compliance could result in substantial financial repercussions, the CMS added.
The Age Friendly Hospital Measure's performance data will be accessible on the CMS Care Compare website, providing patients and caregivers with insights into which hospitals offer age-friendly care for seniors.
This initiative is influenced by the standards established by ACS's Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) Program, which was initiated in 2019 to cater to the needs of older surgical patient demographic.
GSV Program is rooted in scientific evidence and equips hospitals with strategies to diminish readmission rates, mitigate postoperative delirium, and improve the overall quality of life for patients.
By adopting this programme, hospitals have the potential to shorten patient stays, thereby achieving cost savings while simultaneously helping patients meet their healthcare objectives.
ACS has introduced a new tier of the GSV Program, which is specifically designed to address five domains outlined in the measure.
These domains include the establishment of patient healthcare objectives, responsible medication management, frailty screening and interventions, addressing social vulnerability, and fostering age-friendly care collaboration.
The new measure is expected to assess and enhance the care provided to patients aged 65 and above in various clinical environments, such as operating rooms, hospital wards, and emergency departments.
ACS executive director and CEO Patricia Turner said: “The creation of the Age Friendly Hospital Measure represents a significant step forward in recognising the unique needs of older patients. We are proud to be strong advocates for this new measure because we are confident that it will lead to improved care and outcomes for this patient population.”
