Delirium Aware Safer Healthcare (DASH) is one of Ontario Health’s Clinical Quality campaigns. It aims to reduce hospital-acquired delirium and inform a broader strategy to address frailty in older adults. Through Ontario Health’s ED Return Visit Quality Program and Pay-for-Results, ED sites across the province have shown strong interest in improving care for older adults in emergency departments.
In year 3 of DASH, we are engaging EDs across Ontario through webinars focused on senior-friendly emergency care. These sessions will offer practical strategies for developing Geriatric EDs, including approaches to delirium prevention and recognition. By identifying seniors’ needs early and coordinating care across teams and services, a Geriatric ED approach can reduce delays, support timely disposition, and improve overall ED flow.
The first ED-focused DASH learning session will take place on September 23, 2026, from noon to 1:00 p.m.
REGISTER HERE
Dr. Kevin Biese, an ED physician at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Principal Investigator with the Geriatric ED Collaborative, will lead a discussion on:
- Why Geriatric EDs matter to patients, caregivers, hospitals, and the broader health system
- How a Geriatric ED approach differs from traditional episodic ED care
- Why a Geriatric ED is an approach—not just a place
- How hospitals can get started and build leadership support