Geriatric Co-Management

Geriatric co-management in the emergency department was associated with lower odds of acute hospital admission among older patients compared with usual care. Geriatric co-management complemented rather than replaced the primary emergency physician. GEM co-management shared responsibility across treatment decisions, diagnostics, nursing care, discharge coordination, and outcomes. The GEM team worked alongside the primary emergency department physician from the beginning of the primary assessment. The GEM team used a comprehensive geriatric assessment framework adapted for urgent care. The intervention emphasized shared decision-making with patients and next of kin about treatment options, care preferences, and destination of care.