Geriatric Trauma | October 6, 2026
Date of Presentation: October 6, 2026
Type: Past Presentation
Audience: Clinical
Program: Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Keywords: #elder #elder patients #ems #geriatrics #trauma
In this presentation Whitney Barrett, MD, focuses on the unique challenges of caring for geriatric trauma patients, emphasizing that older adults may have significant injuries despite seemingly minor mechanisms, subtle symptoms, or “normal” vital signs. It highlights the importance of anticipating injury, considering age, frailty, medications and comorbidities, carefully assessing pain and mental status, monitoring vital sign trends, appropriately managing pain, and avoiding both under-triage and over-triage.
Recording:
Presented by:
Dr. Whitney Barrett
Faculty
Whitney Barrett, MD, is an Emergency Physician at the University of New Mexico. She is also part of the UNM EMS consortium which provides medical direction, education and advocacy for many metro, rural and Tribal agencies in New Mexico. Whitney’s current EMS roles include medical direction for Valencia County and Kirtland Airforce Base as well as medical director for accredited courses at the UNM EMS academy. She is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico and attained her medical degree from UNM. Whitney completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at Denver Health in Denver, CO. During residency, she had the opportunity to learn about EMS and decided to pursue a fellowship in EMS also at Denver Health. Subsequently, she worked in the emergency department, as an associate medical director for the Denver Health paramedic division, and as the Medical Director for the paramedic school.
Resources Provided:
Date added: October 7, 2026



















































































