UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown Earns Age-Friendly Health System Designation

University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown has been awarded designation as a Level 2 Age-Friendly Health System (AFHS) by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).
AFHS is a national movement of hundreds of health care organizations committed to ensuring that older adults receive evidence-based care. UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown achieved Level 1 designation in March 2022. Being awarded Level 2 AFHS designation signifies that UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown is recognized by IHI as a leader in the movement to advance the care of adults over age 65. 
Level 2 designation shows that the hospital:

• Is guided by an essential set of age-friendly, evidence-based practices across the “4Ms” (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility);
• Causes no harms; and
• Provides care that is consistent with What Matters to older adults and their families.

“Achieving Level 2 AFHS designation demonstrates the commitment of our Chestertown team members to addressing the health care needs of our entire community,” said Lara Wilson, Director of Rural Health Care Transformation for UM Shore Regional Health. “The key component of asking all patients ‘what matters most to them’ highlights the importance of connecting quality health care with each patient on an individual level. This is rural health care at its core, personal and compassionate.”

Working toward AFHS designation has involved a large interdisciplinary committee led by the hospital’s Rural Health Care Transformation Team. Participants included providers, clinical staff and other representatives from Nursing and Patient Care Services, Population Health, Pharmacy, Palliative Care, Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services, Patient Experience, and Marketing and Communications.