Published Work by AGEM Members

 

AGEM Author Spotlight: Michelle Suh, MD, Clinical Associate of Medicine at the Department of Emergency Medicine at The University of Chicago

 

A scoping review of geriatric emergency medicine research transparency in diversity, equity, and inclusion reporting

This scoping review looked at recent articles in geriatric emergency medicine (GEM) to examine reporting about older adults' social identities, including race and gender. We found that reporting on race and ethnicity was inconsistent; geriatric researcher rarely provided a rationale for the age thresholds used; older adults with cognitive impairment and non-English primary language speakers were commonly excluded from research. Our study underscores the need for standardized reporting of sociodemographic characteristics across different study designs in GEM research. Additionally, there is a need to include more older adults with cognitive impairments and non-English primary language speakers in GEM research.

This work is meaningful for the field of GEM as it highlights critical gaps in the inclusivity and equity of current research practices. Addressing these gaps can lead to more comprehensive and equitable care for older adults in emergency settings, with the goal of improving health outcomes for these vulnerable populations.

Dr. Michelle Suh is a clinician-researcher dedicated to improving the care for vulnerable patients in the ED. Her current interests include geriatric patients with dementia, justice-involved populations, and the hidden curriculum in medical education. She has lectured nationally on these topics, and currently serves as the Geriatric Emergency Medicine Section elected fellow representative. Dr. Suh is a medical education fellow at the University of Chicago and completing an MHPE at the University of Illinois Chicago.