NCH Baker Emergency Department Earns Silver Level II Geriatric Accreditation

NCH Baker Emergency Department Earns Silver Level II Geriatric Accreditation – One of Only Three in Florida

The Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) Baker Emergency Department has earned Level II Silver Accreditation as a Geriatric Emergency Department from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), making it one of only three emergency departments in Florida to achieve this distinction. No emergency department in the state currently holds Level I Gold accreditation.

The recognition through ACEP’s Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) program reflects NCH’s commitment to providing evidence-based, age-friendly care tailored to the needs of older adults. The Silver Level designation recognizes emergency departments that have integrated senior care practices into daily operations and demonstrated leadership in advancing geriatric emergency medicine. “Earning this accreditation underscores our dedication to ensuring older adults receive safe, compassionate, and specialized care,” said Caitlin George, Administrative Director of Emergency Services for NCH. “Our teams have worked diligently to make our emergency departments more responsive to the needs of seniors and this recognition reflects that effort to enhance the emergency experience for older adults.”

The NCH Baker Emergency Department implemented a series of geriatric-focused improvements that contributed to the recognition, including standardized care processes designed to reduce urinary tract infections and hospital readmissions among older patients. The department also created geriatric kits stocked with reading glasses and hearing devices to improve patient engagement and reduce
communication barriers. Additional age-friendly environmental enhancements and transitional care processes help ensure smoother patient experiences from admission through discharge.

With this accreditation, NCH joins a select group of hospitals nationwide recognized for advancing geriatric emergency care. NCH will continue to monitor outcomes such as readmissions, infection rates, and patient satisfaction to build upon the Silver Level designation and further enhance care for Southwest Florida’s growing senior population. NCH is proud to be among a small number of hospitals in Florida leading this important work.

ABOUT NCH

NCH (Naples Comprehensive Health) is an Advanced Community Healthcare System™ serving Southwest Florida with premier routine, critical, and specialty care. NCH, a locally governed non-profit, is recognized as one of Healthgrades America’s Top 50 Hospitals which puts it in the top 1% in the nation for clinical excellence, in addition to being named a Top 50 Hospital for Surgical Care. The system is more than just two hospitals (referred to as the NCH Baker Hospital and NCH North Hospital) with a total of 713 beds – NCH is an alliance of over 750 physicians and medical facilities in dozens of locations throughout Southwest Florida and is the region’s only Joint Commission accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center. NCH cardiac care is ranked top three in the state by Healthgrades. NCH collaborates with the Hospital for Special Surgery for orthopedics, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for pediatrics, and ProScan Imaging for radiology services, ensuring top-tier medical care is available in Southwest Florida. With the largest provider network, urgent/ immediate care centers, diagnostic facilities, and two hospitals, NCH is always advancing the quality of care near you. For more information, visit www.NCHmd.org.