IHI Conducts Age-Friendly Site Visit at University of Utah Health

The University of Utah Health's Department of Internal Medicine welcomed the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) for an age-friendly site visit on October 9-10, 2023. This visit was part of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative, a collaboration between IHI and the John A. Hartford Foundation in conjunction with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States.

The primary aim of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative is to ensure that all healthcare systems consistently provide a set of evidence-based elements of high-quality care known as the 4Ms. These 4Ms encompass:

1. **What Matters**: Understanding and addressing each patient's specific health goals and care preferences.

2. **Medication**: Ensuring patients' medications do not interfere with their health and well-being.

3. **Mentation**: Preventing, identifying, treating, and managing dementia, depression, and delirium.

4. **Mobility**: Ensuring patients move safely daily to maintain function and do what matters.

Under the visionary leadership of the Geriatrics Division faculty, including Dr. Mark Supiano, who serves as the Interim Research Co-Chief, and Dr. Timothy Farrell, who holds the position of Interim Clinical Co-Chief and Associate Chief of Age-Friendly Care, alongside Dr. Linda Edelman, Dr. Jorie Butler, and their colleagues from the HRSA-funded Utah Geriatric Education Consortium, University of Utah Health has gained national recognition for its commitment to advancing clinical, research, and educational initiatives centered around the 4Ms. This recognition designates the institution as a Level 2 Age-Friendly Health System, demonstrating its unwavering dedication to achieving care excellence.

During the site visit, opportunities for further improvement in the health system's ongoing journey towards age-friendly care were revealed. This constructive feedback will enable the University of Utah Health to enhance its strategies and continue its mission to provide the highest healthcare quality for older adults.

The IHI site visit represents a significant step in the University of Utah Health's continuous efforts to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for older adults. With a commitment to the 4Ms and a dedication to improvement, the institution is well on its way to becoming a model of age-friendly healthcare for the nation. For inquiries or if your team is interested in participating in this initiative, please contact Dr. Farrell.