Inpatient Geriatric Medicine Consultation When older persons require hospitalization, St. Vincent's geriatric team does everything possible to ensure the best possible patient outcomes. The team identifies and addresses preventable problems that can hinder a complete recovery, including medication interactions and side effects, pressure sores, nutrition problems, and unexplained loss of memory. Team members also address the personal needs and goals of patients, their families and caregivers and see them through beyond discharge. Geriatric Medicine physicians are available for consultation on all patient units.  

Acute Care for the Elderly  (ACE) Unit
To meet the unique needs of the frail elderly, the hospital has created a special ACE Inpatient Unit where physicians, nurses, and social workers trained in geriatric care identify, treat, prevent, and control common complications so older patients can be helped to recuperate as quickly as possible in a highly supportive and understanding environment.  The goal of the Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit is to treat older patients so they may return to the community at their highest level of functioning.       

Hospitalist Program for the Elderly
For patients who are new to St. Vincent's or who have primary physicians unable to attend to care for them at the hospital, St. Vincent's staffs full-time geriatric hospitalists.  These hospital-based physicians, who are fluent in Spanish, Chinese and English, deliver excellent, comprehensive, and efficient care to patients referred by community-based physicians while maintaining ongoing communication with the patient's primary physician about every aspect of care.  At hospital discharge, the hospitalist sends a summary of the patient's hospital care to the primary care physician so that he or she is fully informed and ready to resume care of the patient. Please call 212-604-7147 to reach a hospitalist.

For information on inpatient services, call the Geriatrics Office at 212-604-2191

Supportive Services
In addition to its outstanding medical services, St Vincent's has developed a range of supportive services to assist older patients and families.  Staff members are dedicated to taking the time to listen and learn from patients, families, and caregivers.  

Supportive Care and Family Caregiver Center
The hospital's Supportive Care and Family Caregiver Center helps caregivers navigate the often-complex medical world, both during and after a patient's hospitalization.  Supportive Care and Family Caregiver Center staff go to discharged patients' homes to provide information, referrals, and supportive counseling at no cost to patients.

The center is conveniently located on the ground floor of the hospital, in Cronin 102, across from the cafeteria. It offers caregivers a comfortable, safe place to talk, listen and learn about medical and social issues. Please call 212-604-7332 for more information or to speak with the director.

Palliative Care Program
This program has been created to improve the quality of life and maintain the dignity of patients who have terminal or advanced incurable illness and to assist their families and caregivers. The palliative care team, which includes geriatric specialists as well as other physicians, nurses, chaplains, and social workers, works with patients, families, and their primary care teams to help patients and their families manage physical and emotional problems along with spiritual concerns - all at no direct cost to patients or their families.

Pet Therapy Program
Since it is well known that pets bring comfort to hospitalized patients, especially the elderly, St. Vincent's operates a pet therapy program through which volunteers bring well-trained, loving dogs to visit patients in their rooms.  

Pet Care Program
Pet ownership can be a hardship for those who are facing an extended hospital stay or who, in a medical emergency, have no one to care for their pets.  St. Vincent's has established a new level of care by helping patients whose animal companions urgently require care during their owners' hospitalization.  The program assists inpatients whose pets need care when their own family and friends cannot and when their financial resources have run out.  It also helps recuperative patients and outpatients who still need help taking care of their animal companions.