Our primary goal is to optimize preoperative status, with the overarching aim of enhancing quality of life for older adult patients.

Due to the physiological changes of aging and development of age-related illness, older adults are at increased risk of poor surgical outcomes and more complicated decisions surrounding surgery and quality of life. Our solution: deliver age-friendly, high-quality perioperative services, resources, and palliative care tailored for older adults.

Our Program Goals:

• Align surgical care with each patient’s personal health goals and preferences
• Optimize patients preoperatively to improve surgical outcomes and recovery 

Target population for care:

• Adults aged 75 years and older
• Individuals who are considering or have been recommending for surgical intervention

• Step 1: Evaluation in Surgical Clinic

  Patients are automatically screened in the surgical clinic to identify if they are candidates for our program

• Step 2: Referral to Geriatric Program

  If you are identified as a potential candidate for surgery, our patient navigator will contact you and help you get scheduled for an appointment with one of our geriatricians

• Step 3: Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

  During your visit, our geriatrician will work with you to clarify your goals of care, risks and benefits of surgery, and identify factors that may impact your recovery

• Step 4: Care Planning and Optimization

  Based on your care plan, goals, and health status, we may offer:

  • Surgical clearance and care coordination with your team
  • Nutrition support
  • Pre-surgery optimization and mobility support
  • Palliative care resources

Developed by the John A. Hartford Foundation, Age-Friendly health systems and hospitals follow a set of evidence-based practices in planning their courses of treatment for older adults known as the "4 Ms":