Acute Medical Events: Falls, Seizures, CVAs, Urinary Retention, Cardiac Events, Hypotension, SIADH, Dehydration, and Infection

Transfer to an Emergency Department (ED) is the safest and most expeditious plan for any geriatric patient with an acute medical event. Of course, consultation with appropriate specialists is useful, but finding and waiting for specialists or consultants should not delay emergency care either on the unit, with an emergency medical team (EMT), or in the ED. The challenge is to manage the acute medical event until more definitive evaluation and treatment can be provided. Many medical events on inpatient geriatric psychiatric units fall within the four domains discussed in this chapter, and an overview of each is offered.