New Acute Care for Elders Unit at Banner-University Medical Center

On Arizona Horizon, we took a look at the new Acute Care for Elders Unit at Banner-University Medical Center, also called the ACE unit.

We were joined by Dr. Nimit Agarwal, the Medical Director for the Center for Healthy Aging at Banner-University Medical Center in Phoenix, as well as Susan Dimpfel, a Nurse Navigator at the ACE Unit.

Meeting a “massive need”

The Acute Care for Elders Unit at Banner-University Medical Center in Phoenix was started by Dr. Agarwal, who said he saw a massive need for this kind of care. The unit will care for some of the community’s most vulnerable patients who often require more specialized treatment and are at higher risk for complications.

“When older patients are admitted to the hospital, unfortunately this can sometimes lead to a downward spiral of events in their health,” Dr. Agarwal said. “With the creation of the ACE unit and more education about specialized geriatric care, we are much better equipped to prevent that from happening by reducing length of stay and helping patients get back to where they were before they were admitted.”

Hundreds of patients being treated

The unit has seen nearly 700 patients since it was started about a year ago. It has resulted in an increase in identification of delirium, which can lead to further problems if unidentified, by almost 25% compared to typical care. The unit puts emphasis on the importance of family caregivers being involved as much as possible to advocate for the patient and help provide comfort during their stay.

A personal connection

Dimpfel has a personal connection to the unit. She not only works there, her parents have stayed there. Dimpfel’s parents, who are both in their 90s, were in the hospital and cared for in the ACE unit this past year. Her father, Robert Malinski, was admitted in March for a hip fracture after a fall. Malinski’s wife, Anne, was admitted in July after suffering a pulmonary embolism. The couple had relatively short lengths of stay at the hospital thanks in part to the specialized care offered by the unit.

“This was an experience where I can say firsthand how grateful I am for the unit and that Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix is offering this care,” Dimpfel said. “Even with both of my parents being in their 90s, they’re now back to their normal selves after going through such significant injuries and illness.”

Back at their retirement community, her parents were able to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary together in August.