French Hospital Medical Center Receives Accreditation for Elevated Geriatric Emergency Care

The ACEP Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation Program (GEDA) recognizes French Hospital Medical Center with Level 3 accreditation 

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – May 17, 2023 – French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) is proud to announce that it achieved accreditation by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation Program (GEDA). 

The GEDA accreditation recognizes French Hospital Medical Center's commitment to providing high-quality, specialized emergency care for older adults. The Level Three accreditation ensures that the hospital's emergency department meets the interdisciplinary geriatric standards set forth by ACEP, including accessibility requirements and training for the medical staff. 

According to the United States Census, more than 21% of San Luis Obispo County residents aged 65 and over, the need for high-quality geriatric emergency care has never been more critical. Receiving the accreditation is a testament to the hospital's ongoing efforts to provide exceptional care to all patients, including older adults. It is a recognition of the hospital's hard work and dedication to providing the highest standards of care for the community's older adults.

"We are honored to receive this accreditation, which demonstrates our commitment to providing exceptional care to all of our patients, including the older adults who come to our emergency department," said Patrick Caster, President, and CEO, French Hospital Medical Center. "This accreditation is a testament to our team's hard work and dedication to ensuring that our older patients receive the specialized care they need and deserve."

Accreditation by GEDA provides an excellent avenue for French Hospital Medical Center to communicate to patients, colleagues, and hospital administration that their program is first-rate and meets the interdisciplinary geriatric standards set forth by ACEP.

It also signals to the public that the hospital is focused on providing the highest standards of care for older adults in the community.

The ACEP Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation Program (GEDA) accreditation is not just a symbolic recognition. French Hospital Medical Center's accreditation by GEDA signifies that they have taken concrete steps towards providing high-quality geriatric care to their patients. By achieving this accreditation, French Hospital Medical Center has demonstrated their commitment to providing the highest level of care to their older adult patients, with a focus on meeting their unique needs and challenges.

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About French Hospital Medical Center

French Hospital Medical Center is a state-of-the-art, 112-bed acute care hospital located in San Luis Obispo, California. French’s Oppenheimer Family Center for Emergency Medicine is the area’s most advanced emergency services center. The modern facility is home to the Copeland, Forbes, and Rossi Cardiac Care Center, is the county’s premier cardiac center, providing the latest cardiac and imaging technology, and the Hearst Cancer Resource Center offering free education, resources and support to cancer patients and their families. 

French Hospital Medical Center together with Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, and Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, make up Dignity Health Central Coast, a network of hospitals, physicians, and outpatient services including physician offices, ambulatory surgery centers, technologically-advanced laboratories and imaging centers, and a full service home health agency. To learn more, visit dignityhealth.org/frenchhospital.