title: Optimal staffing for Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) units.
abstract: Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) units have been shown to improve outcomes for hospitalized elders. Because the literature offers little to describe the appropriate staffing of such units, we surveyed ACE units about their size, configuration, staffing, patient selection, training, and outcomes data. Although we had anticipated speaking with staff from 30 to 40 units, we were able to poll key personnel on only 18 ACE units. This article describes staffing and continuous quality improvement data for these sites.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Weill Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Eugenia L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Siegler
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Glick
authors.forename: Jiwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000208:Acute Disease / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003625:Data Collection; D005845:Georgia; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000592:standards; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010414:Pennsylvania; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000592:standards*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D000078329:Workforce