As discussed in the introduction, the GEDI team is a nurse-led, physician championed team that aims to maximise and fast track multidisciplinary decision making for older persons in the ED. The care of the older person who presents to the ED is managed in the same way as any other patient by the primary care team of emergency physicians and registered nurses with referral to specialist medical and allied health teams as required. The GEDI team provides additional specialist consultation, coordination and facilitation of care related to older persons with complex needs.
GEDI Frail Older Person Emergency Department Journey defines the usual pathway for an older patient presenting to ED. The pink boxes identify ways in which GEDI nurses identify issues and formulate goals of care to streamline the care of the older person already provided by the ED medical and nursing team.
Please note
It is very important to stress that the GEDI team do not take over the care of all older persons who present to the ED. Rather, the GEDI nurses assess which people, in the older cohort, would benefit from additional care coordination, fast-tracking and focusing of clinical decision making and advocacy related to treatment and disposition. They then work with the primary emergency care team of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to streamline care.
