The CHUS Geriatric Emergency: A Source of Inspiration Across Quebec

In response, the emergency department team took the lead in implementing an innovative care model specifically designed to meet the needs of elderly patients. Introduced in 2019, this more human-centered and reassuring approach is now drawing attention from other major emergency departments. Teams from the CHUM, CHU de Québec, and Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, among others, have visited Sherbrooke in the past year to learn from the CHUS model.

What is a geriatric emergency department? It’s a care environment thoughtfully designed for older adults, staffed with specially trained professionals, equipped with adapted tools, and supported by targeted protocols tailored to the needs of this vulnerable population. In fact, CHUS is the only hospital in Canada to have earned Silver-level Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians. The team is now aiming for Gold by 2026.

Dr. Audrey-Anne Brousseau, emergency physician and lead for the geriatric program, recently surveyed her team to gather their impressions and reflect on how far they’ve come.

Key positive impacts identified include:

• Patients are more actively involved in their care;
• Cognitive and physical decline is reduced;
• Healthcare staff feel better supported;
• The overall quality of care has been transformed.

The new emergency department at Hôpital Fleurimont, set to open next February, will also include this geriatric emergency concept.

The Savoie Family Visits the Geriatric Emergency Department

This year, many purchases were made to enhance the geriatric emergency environment: specialized equipment for specific needs, comfortable chairs, mattresses, walkers, activity carts, and other accessories aimed at improving patient comfort. Members of the Savoie family—major donors to the project and leaders of Résidences Soleil—recently visited the facility to meet the team and see first-hand the tangible outcomes and impact of their generous support on the care provided to seniors.

"We were impressed by the serene atmosphere here, very different from the hustle and bustle usually associated with hospital emergency departments. The little attentions, carefully thought out, have a considerable impact in soothing the elderly who very often arrive in emergency situations. The adapted environment, its soothing atmosphere and the professionalism of the staff make this place a true model to follow."

- Nataly Savoie, Executive President

This shift toward a geriatric-focused emergency department is not only inspiring—it’s necessary. According to projections from the Institut de la statistique du Québec, people aged 65 and over will soon make up one in four individuals in the population. This demographic growth is driven by increased life expectancy and the aging of the baby boomer generation.