Acute Care of Elderly Inpatient Unit (ACE Unit)

Ocean Medical Center is one of a select few hospitals in the country which has an inpatient unit designated for the Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE). ACE is a model of inpatient care geared to avoid complications and return elderly patients to their level of baseline function prior to hospitalization through attention to staffing, care protocols, and the unit’s physical design.

Nurses on the ACE Unit are board certified in gerontological nursing. A multi-disciplinary team is involved in creating care plans and is specially trained in the needs of elderly patients who often demonstrate dementia in addition to their physical ailments. Collaboration among these specialists provides the best-possible outcomes and ongoing attention to caring for the whole patient. Early discharge planning is a key focus to ensure the transition home is smooth and the appropriate ongoing support is available.

Patients typically admitted to the 40-bed state-of-the-art ACE unit are 70 or older with an acute illness and are not in need of cardiology or oncology care. Other criteria for admission to our ACE unit include patients who come from nursing homes or assisted living facilities, or patients who have Parkinson’s disease.

Some of the ACE unit’s special physical environment enhancements and amenities include:

• Recliners and low beds to accommodate physical needs of patients
• Use of up-lighting to reduce glare
• Flat panel televisions
• Spacious lavatories to reduce falls and accommodate walkers and wheelchairs
• All of the patient beds are equipped to signal the nursing unit if a patient attempts to move from his/her bed without nursing support

Our direct admission process has been enhanced to facilitate placement of patients directly to the patient unit, unless emergency stabilization is required. This is especially important for the ACE unit population that can often be traumatized in an unfamiliar and fast-paced environment of the Emergency Room.

For more information about Ocean Medical Center's ACE Unit and a physician referral, call Meridian Health Line toll free at 1-800-560-9990 or visit our online physician directory.