Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital (APD), a member of Dartmouth Health, has achieved American College of Surgeons (ACS) Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV).
APD achieved this verification through its participation in the GSV (Age-Friendly) Level Pilot, a quality improvement initiative with the goal of improving care for older adults aged 65 years and older undergoing inpatient surgery by creating and disseminating a delirium-focused entry level of participation for the GSV Program. Pilot participants such as APD helped to shape the GSV Program by contributing to case studies and refining the implementation process. The pilot phase demonstrated that the new GSV (Age-Friendly) entry level is an effective steppingstone for hospitals to incrementally implement a quality improvement program while also improving the surgical care of older adults. As a participant of the GSV Program, APD earned distinction as an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, recognizing the hospital’s dedicated to maintaining the highest standards in surgical care.
“This verification is yet another example of APD’s dedication to providing the highest standards of surgical patient care and improving patient outcomes,” said Michael T. Lynch, MD, MBA, president and CEO of APD. “Excellence in geriatric care is a strategic priority for APD.”
“Our goal is to offer a multidisciplinary approach to promote better surgical outcomes for older adults by managing their complex health situations, allowing for comprehensive preoperative care that addresses both medical and personal needs prior to their procedure,” said Timothy R. Siegel, MD, medical director of perioperative services. “Director of perioperative services Christa L. Weaver, RN, and her entire team collaborated to earn this verification.”
APD’s strategic focus on senior care includes earning Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department (GED) accreditation, implementing Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders (NICHE), a care model for older patients across hospital settings, and being recognized as an Age-Friendly Health System, implementing the nationally recognized best practices across multiple care settings. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, another member of Dartmouth Health, participates in NICHE, and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center holds Level 2 accreditation, achieved through primary care at Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Lyme and Dartmouth Health’s Geriatric Center of Excellence.
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College has approximately 90,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.
About Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital (APD)
Known for personalized, high-quality care, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital (APD) has been a community-based healthcare organization in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont since its founding in 1932. A member of Dartmouth Health, APD has been recognized nationally for quality care. Its areas of clinical excellence include surgical services, primary care, geriatric care, sleep health, and emergency services in partnership with Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. The APD campus is also home to a senior living community with assisted and independent living facilities. Learn more at alicepeckday.org.