title: Feasibility of nurses measuring gait speed in older community-dwelling Emergency Department patients.
abstract: Gait speed assessment is a rapid, simple and objective measure for predicting risk of unfavorable outcomes which may provide better prognostic and reliable information than existing geriatric ED (Emergency Department) screening tools. This descriptive pilot project was designed to determine feasibility of implementing gait speed screening into routine nursing practice by objectively identifying patients with sub-optimal gait speeds. Participants included community-dwelling adults 65 years and older with plans for discharge following ED treatment. Patients with a gait speed <1.0 m/s were identified as "high-risk" for an adverse event, and referred to the ED social worker for individualized resources prior to discharge. Thirty-five patients were screened and nurse initiated gait speed screens were completed 60% of the time. This project demonstrates ED gait speed screening may be feasible. Implications for practice should consider incorporating gait speed screening into routine nursing assessment to improve provider ED decision-making and disposition planning.
authors.affiliation: Atlanta VA Medical Center, 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA 30033, USA; Emory University Hospital, Emergency Department, 1364 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, 1520 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Electronic address: paula.tucker@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Paula W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.affiliation: Emory University Hospital, Emergency Department, 1364 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, 1520 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Dian Dowling
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Atlanta VA Medical Center, 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA 30033, USA; Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, 1520 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Clevenger
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, 461 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37240, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ardisson
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, P.O. Box 1620, New York, NY 10029, USA; GRECC (Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center), James J. Peters VA Medical Center, 130 Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA.
authors.forename: Ula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Emergency Department; Gait speed; Routine assessment; Screening