ACE Unit

The ACE model of care is an evidence-based model that helps older adult patients maintain function, quality of life and independence during hospitalization. Our goal is to help patients return to the level of independence and activity they had before their illness. Our interdisciplinary care delivery team includes:

• Geriatricians
• Geriatric certified advanced practice nurses (APNs)
• Geriatric certified pharmacists
• Dieticians
• Social Workers/ Transitional Care Coordinators
• Therapists
• Geriatric Resource Nurses
• Geriatric Patient Care Assistants

Summa Health is proud to have achieved “Exemplar” status through NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders). NICHE is an international organization designed to help hospitals give exemplary care to older adults. Many of the RNs and nursing assistants on the ACE unit have completed specialized geriatric training through NICHE.

The ACE Unit is also designated as an Age-Friendly unit through the Institute for Health Improvement (IHI). Age-Friendly care is a framework to guide the care of older adults that includes the 4 M’s of Care:

• What Matters: Know and align care with each older adult’s specific health outcome goals and care preferences.
• Medication: Using Age-Friendly medication that does not interfere with what matters to the older adult, mentation, or mobility.
• Mentation: Prevent, identify, treat, and manage dementia, depression, and delirium.
• Mobility: Ensure that older adults move safely every day in order to maintain function.