The Emergency Department at Cedars-Sinai provides specialized, evidence-based care tailored to the unique needs of older adults. (photo by Getty)

Cedars-Sinai has received Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians, recognizing the hospital’s specialized emergency care for patients age 65 and older.

The designation is the highest level of accreditation awarded to emergency departments that demonstrate excellence in caring for older adults through specialized staffing, training and patient-centered services. According to Cedars-Sinai, older adults account for about one-third of the patients treated annually in the Emergency Department.

“This recognition reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional, patient-centered emergency care for the older adults of our community,” said Claude Stang, executive director of the Cedars-Sinai Emergency Department. “As the No. 1 Medicare provider in California, we care for thousands of older adults every year, and we are dedicated to keeping them safe and healthy.”

Accreditation reviewers highlighted several features of the hospital’s geriatric emergency program, including the Barry and Rena Plost Senior Emergency Center, where patients who may benefit from a quieter setting can receive care in private rooms with dim lighting and reduced noise. The hospital said the environment is designed to help reduce the risk of delirium among older adults.

The accreditation also recognizes Cedars-Sinai’s specialized geriatric nurse assessment team, integrated physical therapy and pharmacy services, senior-friendly waiting areas and accessibility features, trained volunteers who provide companionship to older patients and physician-led education in geriatric emergency medicine.

Cedars-Sinai also has been recognized as an Age-Friendly Health System Committed to Care Excellence by The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

The accreditation comes as Cedars-Sinai continues a major expansion of its Emergency Department. The project will add approximately 16,550 square feet and increase the number of treatment spaces from 60 to 100.

Sam Torbati, chair and medical director of the Emergency Department, said the expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2028. Initial improvements, including a new laboratory, are scheduled to open this fall, with larger phases beginning next summer.

The first phase of construction will add 15 acute care beds, eight behavioral health beds, six critical care and trauma beds and a dedicated treatment room for critically ill children. The project also includes expanded waiting areas, a redesigned triage space and a new patient entrance.

For information, visit cedars-sinai.org.