Edgar Pierluissi, M.D., is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at UCSF and the Medical Director of the Acute Care for Elders Unit at the San Francisco General Hospital.

Dr. Pierluissi has cared for vulnerable populations his entire career. He is also committed to healthcare quality improvement. He merged these interests as the founding Medical Director of the Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Unit at the San Francisco General Hospital. The SFGH adopted this model of care to meet the needs of a growing older population in San Francisco. Since opening in February, 2007, the Unit cares for 500 patients each year.

Dr. Pierluissi received his MD from Harvard Medical School and completed training and Chief Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and a fellowship in Quality Improvement through the Veterans Affairs National Quality Scholars Fellowship. After training he worked for the County of San Mateo as a staff physician, as the medical director of the North County Health Center, and as VP for Quality Improvement. He joined the faculty of the UCSF Division of Geriatrics in 2006.

Clinical Activities

Dr. Pierluissi's clinical activities are based at the San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH). The ACE unit at SFGH has a friendly, homelike environment and uses a patient-centered approach to hospital care for older adults to maintain independence and return patients to the community.

The goals of the ACE unit are to 1) maintain or improve physical and cognitive function, 2) avoid injury to patients that can occur through inappropriate medication prescribing, bedrest, use of procedures, 3) provide education and training to patients and their families, and 4) to identify a discharge plan that is safe and prevents future hospitalization. The ACE unit achieves these goals by employing an interdisciplinary team of hospital professionals with complementary skills to develop an individualized, patient-centered care plan.

We favor a nonpharmacologic approach to treating difficulty sleeping, confusion, or disruptive behaviors. Patients are encouraged to get out of bed for their meals, to walk regularly, and are offered community dining to socialize. Special attention is paid to proper mediation prescribing and enhancing nutrition. The ACE unit has hosted visitors from throughout country interested in this model of care.