A New Kind of ER for Older Adults

As our population grows older, the importance of understanding and addressing the unique healthcare needs for the elderly is increasing.

Thats why the Emergency Department at Physicians Regional- Collier Boulevard has developed their new Older Adult ER, the only one of its kind in Lee and Collier County. Knowing that an ER visit can be a stressful experience, especially for older adults, they have taken steps to help make them feel more at ease and comfortable. This includes physical enhancements such as:
Private patient rooms
Special beds with thick, soft mattresses
Larger, easy to read clocks
Softer lighting
Soothing room colors
Large and easy to operate remote for nurse call and TV
Arm rest seating and recliners for family comfort
Portable CD player offering 1940s hits geared for patients with dementia
Though not immediately apparent, another important step the ER has taken is having staff specially trained in caring for older adults. This means all ER staff and medical providers have completed at least ten hours of geriatric care education.
In addition, the ER provides a 30-minutes-or-less Service Pledge where a patients time will be noted when they enter the emergency room, and a medical professional will work diligently to have them initially seen within 30 minutes or less of their noted arrival. This allows them to receive faster care and quickly gets them into a less noisy environment to avoid confusion and help induce calm. Each patient room is also enclosed with sliding glass doors that helps drown out hallway noise.
The emergency room at Physicians Regional - Collier Boulevard has 18 private rooms, offers 24-hour care by board-certified physicians and is conveniently located in East Naples at 8300 Collier Blvd., Naples, FL. It is a Certified Primary Stroke Center and Accredited Chest Pain Center by the American College of Cardiology.