Interestingly, only 1 article, by Counsell and
colleagues, reviewed other outcomes of the
ACE program, such as patient and health care
satisfaction with the program, use of restrains,
and use of interdisciplinary team members.
Patients, family members, nurses, and doctors
all reported increased satisfaction with the ACE
program compared with usual care. This study
also found that there were other benefits to the
ACE program of care. Patients were less likely
to be physically restrained than patients in a usual
care unit. Depression was also recognized more
often by physicians and earlier in the patient’s
stay. The effects of depression recognition
were not addressed in this study; however, it
can be presumed that treatment and recognition
of depression early on can improve physical as
well as emotional well-being. Interdisciplinary
team members were utilized more in the ACE
unit compared with the usual care unit. For example,
physical therapy consults were obtained
sooner and more often and social work was consulted
more often. These findings suggest that
ACE improves multiple aspects of patient care
and well-being.