By Pamela Garofolo, Vice President of Program Excellence, UMC
At UMC, care has always started with one question: What matters most? It’s how we listen, how we plan, and how we support every person who trusts us with their health.
That’s why we’re proud to announce our participation in the national Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative, a growing movement focused on improving care for older adults by honoring their priorities.
The Age-Friendly initiative is built around four essential elements, known as the 4Ms:
What Matters
Know and align care with each older adult’s specific health outcome goals and care preferences including, but not limited to, end-of-life care, and across settings of care.
Medication
If medication is necessary, use age-friendly medication that do not interfere with What Matters to the older adult, Mobility, or Mentation across settings of care.
Mentation
Prevent, identify, treat, and manage dementia, depression, and delirium across settings of care.
Mobility
Ensure that older adults move safely every day in order to maintain function and do What Matters.
Led by The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States, the initiative helps health care organizations put proven, evidence-based practices into action — practices designed specifically to support older adults in living healthier, more abundant lives.
Through shared learning and collaboration, participating organizations come together to learn from one another, measure progress, and continually improve.
“Asking ‘What matters most?’ has always been at the heart of how UMC helps residents live exciting, vibrant lives,” said Mark Lenhard, President & CEO of UMC. “We’re encouraged to see this approach gaining national momentum and proud to stand alongside others who share this belief.”
UMC now joins more than 5,200 health systems worldwide committed to tailoring care around what matters most to each individual and delivering the highest quality programs and services, every time.
