Listen time: 30 minutes
In a lively conversation with Susie Jones, host of WCCO’s Sunday morning Health Radio Show, Dr. Nick Schneeman, Lifespark Chief Medical Officer, talks through why seniors go to the ER and where health care can support their ability to get care at home.
In the full hour show, Dr. Nick points to the 4M’s of geriatric medicine (we like to call it senior-savvy) and why knowing what matters to them, their medications, mentation (cognitive agility), and mobility level all play a role in creating age-friendly health. Nick also advises seniors who are unsure where to turn to ask your primary care provider for a Geriatric Consult to talk through setting up contingency plans, medication reviews, etc., to ensure you have everything you need to live as full and independent as possible.
The key Dr. Nick points out is not ER avoidance but addressing urgent needs at home where a senior is most comfortable to avoid long wait times and high costs, and exposure to bacteria, viruses, and overtreatment. When we serve seniors in this way, we open the doors for the ER to be used as it was intended for true emergencies.