What GEM Does
The Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) Nurse Program consists of advanced practice nurses with training in geriatric assessment. They are Registered Nurses (RN) with specialist training in gerontological nursing (GNC(c)) and/or Nurse Practitioners (NP-Adult) who deliver emergency geriatric assessment and interventions to older adults living complex health conditions and their care partners, in the Emergency Department.
Program Goals
Deliver emergency geriatric assessments in the Emergency Department to older adults living with frailty;
Connect older adults living with frailty and their care partners with community services and resources that better meet their health needs;
Build geriatric and senior-friendly care capacity in the hospital Emergency Department; and
Collaborate with local community partners to facilitate care, knowledge transfer, and education.
Our recent GEM Return on Investment (ROI) evaluation demonstrated an impressive monetary return of 354.27%, equivalent to $1.13 million in annual savings per GEM Nurse.
Read more about the GEM Return on Investment Report
Meet the Need
Older adults represent as many as 30% of the patients seen in hospital Emergency Departments, more than any other age group. Health complexity and risks for rapid functional decline during a hospital visit can make Emergency Department visits a life changing experience for older adults and their care partners. By providing specialized geriatric services from a GEM Nurse in the Emergency Department, decline and loss of independence can often be prevented.
Please see the map below for locations of GEM Nurses in our Region. Click a pinned location on the map for more information.
To learn more about GEM programs in Ontario, please visits the PGLO website.