American College of Emergency Physicians
2026 GEDA Awards
GEDA Awards Scoring Rubric & Nomination Process
Purpose: To recognize excellence, innovation, and leadership in geriatric emergency care across GEDA-accredited sites, while promoting transparency, site engagement, and alignment with the program’s mission.
Timeline: Applications are due August 7, 2026. Award recipients will be notified in September 2026 and recognized at the Better Care for Older Adults: Low-Tech Pearls and High-Tech Systems event on October 5, 2026.
Award Categories & Descriptions
Excellence in GED Care Award
This is the highest national recognition for GEDs that exemplify superior patient care, innovative practice, and consistent improvement in health outcomes for older adults.
Selection Criteria:
- Exceptional patient satisfaction
- Strong clinical outcomes
- Demonstrated quality improvement initiatives
- Robust patient safety protocols
- Use of innovative approaches and technologies
- Commitment to staff training and development
GEDA Rural ED Performance Award
Recognizes rural EDs for impactful contributions to geriatric care through innovation, coordination, and sustained community health improvement.
Selection Criteria:
- Service coordination and reduction of redundancies
- Cross-agency collaboration
- Innovative solutions for rural challenges
- Demonstrated, lasting community impact
Innovator Award for Geriatric Emergency Excellence
Honors GEDs that lead innovative initiatives with measurable improvements in care quality and system efficiency.
Selection Criteria:
- Originality and relevance of innovation
- Clinical effectiveness and cost-consciousness
- Institutional or broader impact
GED Patient Experience Award
Celebrates GEDs that elevate the patient experience through compassionate care, satisfaction-driven improvements, and a community reputation for excellence.
Selection Criteria:
- Patient satisfaction scores and feedback
- Demonstrated empathy and person-centered care
- Community trust and positive reputation
Level 3 GED Innovation Award: Creative Solutions to Common Challenges (New)
Recognizes a Level 3-accredited GED for resourceful and scalable solutions that address barriers in geriatric ED care, despite resource limitations.
Selection Criteria:
- Innovation in care delivery
- Feasibility and scalability
- Relevance to common GED challenges
Honorable Mention
Acknowledges a GED team’s consistent, compassionate, and high-quality service to older adults in the ED, highlighting resilience and commitment to care delivery.
Geriatric Emergency Care System Excellence Award
Recognizes healthcare systems that have implemented high-quality GED practices across multiple EDs, showing leadership, coordination, and sustained impact at scale.
Scoring Rubric (All Award Categories)
Total: 20 Points
Nomination Sources
- Self-Nomination (strongly encouraged for Patient Experience, Innovation, Excellence, Rural Performance, and Level 3 Innovation Awards)
- Board Referral (based on experience, reputation, or prior interaction)
- Application-Derived Review (extracted "Notable Practices" and "Comments" from Level 1–3 applications)
Review Process
- Solicit Nominations
- Outreach to all GEDA sites with award descriptions.
- Targeted invitations for categories like Rural ED and Level 3 Innovation.
- Board members and reviewers asked to submit nominations.
- Application data extracted into a summary spreadsheet.
- Scoring Phase
- Subcommittee independently scores nominations using rubric.
- Deliberation
- Top scorers reviewed per category.
- Only one award assigned per site; if eligible for multiple, assigned based on best fit and visibility.
- Finalization
- Winners confirmed, recognition materials developed.
- Coordinate with ACEP marketing for announcement (e.g., newsletter, ACEP Scientific Assembly, social media).
GEDA Awards: Individual Scoring Rubrics by Award Type
Excellence in GED Care Award
Purpose: To honor GEDs that set the national benchmark for geriatric emergency care.
Criteria
Description
Points
Patient Satisfaction
Evidence of exceptional patient experience (surveys, testimonials, etc.)
0–3
Clinical Outcomes
Measurable success in treatment outcomes, readmissions, and complications
0–3
Quality Improvement Initiatives
Implementation and impact of QI projects aligned with geriatric standards
0–3
Patient Safety
Strong protocols for fall prevention, medication safety, infection control, delirium prevention, and response
0–3
Innovation
Demonstrated novel approaches that improve care
0–3
Staff Development
Ongoing geriatric training and education for staff
0–5
Total
0–20
GEDA Rural ED Performance Award
Purpose: To recognize outstanding rural EDs that tailor geriatric emergency care to unique community needs.
Criteria
Description
Points
Coordination of Services
Community partnerships and inter-agency engagement
0–5
Collaboration & Networking
Community partnerships and inter-agency engagement
0–4
Innovation in Rural Practice
Creative approaches adapted to limited resources or geography
0–5
Lasting Impact
Long-term health outcomes or systemic improvements for older adults
0–6
Total
0–20
Innovator Award for Geriatric Emergency Excellence
Purpose: To honor GEDs that have developed novel, high-impact models that improve care for older adults.
Criteria
Description
Points
Originality
Novelty and creativity of the idea or solution
0–5
Clinical or Operational Impact
Effectiveness in improving outcomes, efficiency, or reducing costs
0–5
Implementation & Sustainability
Practicality of integration and potential for long-term use
0–5
Scalability
Potential for replication or broader application
0–5
Total
0–20
GED Patient Experience Award
Purpose: To recognize GEDs that prioritize and enhance the care experience for older adult patients.
Criteria
Description
Points
Patient Feedback
Positive reviews, testimonials, and satisfaction scores
0–7
Compassionate Care Practices
Implementation of person-centered practices, trauma-informed care
0–6
Community Trust & Reputation
Recognition within the community or among older adult populations
0–4
Ongoing Improvement
Continuous efforts to adapt and improve based on patient feedback
0–3
Total
0–20
Level 3 GED Innovation Award
Purpose: To recognize Level 3 GEDs that implement creative solutions to common challenges with limited resources.
Criteria
Description
Points
Originality
Novelty and creativity of the idea or solution
0–5
Clinical or Operational Impact
Effectiveness in improving outcomes, efficiency, or reducing costs
0–5
Implementation & Sustainability
Practicality of integration and potential for long-term use
0–5
Scalability
Potential for replication or broader application
0–5
Total
0–20
Geriatric Emergency Care System Excellence Award
Purpose: To honor healthcare systems with strong commitments to system-wide GED implementation and sustainability.
Criteria
Description
Points
Number of GEDs in System
Breadth of adoption across system hospitals
0–5
Standardization of Practices
Consistency in protocols, workflows, and training
0–4
System-Level QI Infrastructure
Centralized geriatric QI and monitoring
0–4
Leadership & Culture
System commitment to older adult care across departments
0–4
Community & Policy Engagement
External impact on geriatric care beyond the system
0–3
Total
0–20
Honorable Mention Award
Purpose: To recognize exceptional dedication, professionalism, and compassion in the delivery of geriatric emergency care.
Criteria
Description
Points
Dedication to Older Adults
Long-standing service and commitment to improving elder care
0–6
Teamwork and Resilience
Evidence of collaborative culture and overcoming systemic challenges
0–7
Community Impact
Recognition by patients, peers, or external organizations
0–7
Total
0–20
2025 Award Recipients
Individuals who received this award in 2025 are not eligible to receive the same award again in 2026.
Excellence in GED Care Award
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA – Emergency Department
Excellence in GED Care Award & GED Patient Experience Award
Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
GEDA Rural ED Performance Award
University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT – Emergency Department
Innovator Award for Geriatric Emergency Excellence
Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT – Emergency Department
GED Patient Experience Award
Yale New Haven Health – Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, CT
Level 3 GED Innovation Award
Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI
Geriatric Emergency Care System Excellence Award
Veterans Health Affairs (VHA) Healthcare System
Honorable Mention Award
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Excellence in Delirium Detection & Care Award
Baystate Noble Hospital, Westfield, MA
