The Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Unit at UTMB was the first hospital unit in Texas Designed exclusively to care for the acutely ill older adults and uses an interdisciplinary team model to help prevent the physical decline and weakness that can occur with hospitalization.
In 2003 and 2004 the ACE unit was ranked #1 nationwide in patient satisfaction among 900 geriatric hospital units surveyed by Press Ganey Associates.
In 2005, the ACE unit was expanded to 52 beds to better serve our growing older population and to focus on clinical research. The ACE unit is now the largest in the country with a patient service and clinical research mission.
Why Study hospitalized patients?
- To provide outstanding patient care and service
- To enhance patient quality of life
- To plan programs of excellence that focus on the whole patient - mind and body.
What happens if I volunteer?
Trained professionals perform simple tests and ask you questions about your current health and well-being. For example, if you are well enough, you may be asked to walk a short distance down the hall, to see how long it takes. All research is carefully
screened for safety and you are never personally identified. You are always told what will happen. You may refuse at any time.
Better understanding factors leading to disability may:
- help delay the onset of functional impairment
- help maintain independence
- help reduce length of hospitalization
- help reduce institutionalization
- help improve psychological health and quality of life
- provide social, health and economic benefits to patients and their families
For more information, please contact:
ACE Unit Research
UTMB Jennie Sealy Hospital
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555
409.772.1955
800.298.7015
ACE Unit Research: Growing older smarter