BUILT-IN ASSESSMENT TOOLS TO MOTIVATE IMPROVEMENTS IN CARE

To facilitate adoption of the elder mistreatment care model, we developed an institutional assessment tool. The Elder Mistreatment Emergency Department Assessment Profile, or EM-EDAP, assesses staff knowledge, professional practice issues, and perceptions of ED work environments related to elder mistreatment. The EM-EDAP examines ED units with regard to screening, brief intervention (including safety planning), referral, and follow-up post-discharge. The EM-EDAP serves as a powerful tool enabling ED staff to define areas of greatest need and opportunity and to drive systems and practice change. It measures improvement in the following: 1) staff knowledge, attitudes, and efficacy related to elder mistreatment; 2) staff perceptions of the ED practice environment; and 3) staff perceptions of service quality provided to patients at risk for or experiencing elder mistreatment. The EM-EDAP may guide EDs to focus on practice improvement strategies most responsive to local needs and most feasible to implement given hospital and community resources