The medical-surgical unit and intensive care unit (ICU) at Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg (RDHW) have achieved special recognition as an Age-Friendly Hospital. The designation of RDHW as one of the Age-Friendly Health Systems — Committed to Care Excellence is made by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). The international initiative aims to improve care for older adults and contribute to the growth and expansion of Age-Friendly care in all health settings. As of March 2024, more than 2,048 hospitals and health care practices have been recognized as Age-Friendly Health Systems – Committed to Care Excellence, the higher of two levels of engagement in this initiative.
“Riverside has always been committed to care excellence and is proud and humbled to have achieved this recognition of the medical-surgical unit and ICU at RDHW,” says Michelle Wooten, RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer at Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg. “The Age-Friendly initiative continues to be an important part of our overarching vision to provide every older adult with the best care possible.”
The initiative is based on a series of practices focused on addressing four essential elements for older patient care, also recognized as the 4Ms of care
- What Matters: Know and align care with each older adult's specific health outcome goals and care preferences including, but not limited to, end-of-life care, and across settings of care.
- Medication: If medication is necessary, use medications that are safer for older adults and that do not interfere with What Matters to the older adult, Mobility, or Mentation across settings of care.
- Mentation: Prevent, identify, treat, and manage dementia, depression, and delirium across settings of care.
- Mobility: Ensure that older adults move safely every day in order to maintain function and do What Matters to them.
The hospitals and health care practices recognized by IHI as Age-Friendly Health Systems — Committed to Care Excellence have shown exemplary alignment with the elements of the 4Ms Framework by reporting the number of patients over 65 who’ve been cared for utilizing the 4Ms over a three-month time period. Achieving this outcome then allows these care settings to continue to provide and document care in alignment with the 4Ms framework.
“Riverside has always been on the forefront of patient care, and we look forward to ensuring our clinical teams continue to provide evidence-based, high-quality care,” said Tina Thomas, Executive Director of the Martha W. Goodson Center. “By tailoring our approach to age-friendly care, we can meet the unique needs of older adults with compassion and dignity.”
In addition to the med-surg and ICU certifications, the Emergency Department at Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg has a Geriatric Certification. To learn more about Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg, please visit: riversideonline.com/rdhw.