Atlanta VA Health Care System Emergency Department Earns Prestigious Level 1 GED Accreditation
By Gregory Kendall, Public Affairs Specialist
The Atlanta VA Health Care System is proud to announce that its Emergency Department (ED) has been awarded Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department (GED) Accreditation, recognizing the facility’s commitment to providing the highest standard of emergency care for older Veterans.
The Level 1 designation—granted by the American College of Emergency Physicians—is the highest level of GED accreditation and is awarded only to emergency departments that demonstrate exceptional readiness, specialized training, and comprehensive resources tailored to the unique needs of older adults. This achievement reflects years of dedicated work by interdisciplinary teams across the Atlanta VAHCS.
“Our Veterans deserve the very best, especially as they age,” said Dr. Ethan Meisel, Atlanta VAHCS Chief of the Emergency Medicine Section. “Achieving Level 1 GED accreditation demonstrates our commitment to clinical excellence, patient safety, and compassionate, age-friendly emergency care. This recognition reflects the tireless efforts of staff across disciplines who worked together to exceed national standards.”
To earn Level 1 accreditation, the Atlanta VAHCS Emergency Department implemented a wide range of age-centered enhancements, including:
- Specialized geriatric training for physicians, nurses, and support staff
- Enhanced screening protocols to identify fall risk, cognitive concerns, medication challenges, and social needs
- Improved care coordination to support smoother transitions from the ED to inpatient units, outpatient services, or community care
- Environmental adjustments aimed at comfort and safety for older Veterans
- Expanded collaboration with geriatrics, pharmacy, social work, mental health, and rehabilitation services
These improvements ensure that older Veterans receive care that is not only timely and effective but also specifically designed to support their physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being.
The Level 1 GED accreditation places Atlanta VAHCS among an elite group of emergency departments nationwide recognized for excellence in caring for aging populations. For the many Veterans who rely on the ED as a critical access point for medical care, this accreditation represents a major step forward in safety, quality, and Veteran-centered service.
“This milestone reinforces our commitment to delivering world-class care to Veterans of every generation,” the leadership team added. “We are honored to serve those who have served our nation, and we remain dedicated to providing them with the highest-quality emergency care available.”
With this new accreditation, the Atlanta VAHCS reaffirms its role as a leader in innovative, Veteran-focused emergency medicine—continuing to raise the bar in service to America’s heroes.