The AFHS designation recognizes health systems for the practice of four evidence-based elements of care known as the “4Ms”—What Matters, Medication, Mentation (Mind), and Mobility
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue announced on Jan 2, 2024 that the Bellevue Adult Primary Care service, including the Geriatric Medicine team, have been designated as an Age-Friendly Health System (AFHS) – Committed to Care Excellence for the high-quality care they provide to older adult patients. This distinction requires demonstrated progress towards the reliable practice of a set of four evidence-based elements of high-quality care for all older adults, known as the “4Ms” — What Matters, Medication, Mentation (Mind), and Mobility. The AFHS designation is an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the US.
“We are very proud to receive this distinction,” said Dr. Saima Ajmal, Chief of Geriatrics at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “The Age-Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) initiative continues to be an important part of Bellevue’s overarching vision to provide every older adult in our community with the best care possible. We ask our patients, ‘What are your goals for the next six months?’ and our providers then work with patients to help them achieve their goals. We are doing full assessments during annual visits and other visits, for depression, dementia, delirium, mobility, falls, and medications. And what’s important is that we are developing a care plan according to each patient’s preference and needs.”
“With this designation Bellevue joins the age-friendly healthcare movement,” said Dr. Andrew Wallach, Clinical Director of Ambulatory Care at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “We are proud to provide excellent medical and mental health care to all New Yorkers at every phase of their lives, from birth to childhood and adolescence, to women’s and men’s health, to older adults.”
"This is a big win for the Bellevue Geriatric Clinic and Ambulatory Care,” said Esther Frimpong, RN, Clinical Instructor for Ambulatory Care. “Improving the geriatric patient experience and providing high-quality, safe, person-centered care is our goal. To support this, our nursing staff will continue routine depression assessments for our geriatric population, enhancing their mental well-being as well as improving overall health outcomes."
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement defines the four evidence-based elements of high-quality care for all older adults, known as the 4Ms, as follows:
What Matters: Know and align care with each older adult’s specific health outcome goals and care preferences including, but not limited to, end-of-life care, and across settings of care.
Medication: If medication is necessary , use age-friendly medication that does not interfere with what matters to the older adult, mobility or mentation across settings of care.
Mentation (Mind): Prevent, identify, treat, and manage dementia, depression, and delirium across settings of care.
Mobility: Ensure that older adults move safely every day in order to maintain function and do what matters.
For more information, visit www.ihi.org/agefriendly.
