Geriatric Coordination via Telemedicine (COGERT) has become a central tool in the care of elderly individuals in the Puy-de-Dôme region. Affiliated with the Geriatrics Department of the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital (CHU), this hospital-based on-call telephone service supports general practitioners and coordinating physicians in nursing homes (EHPADs) on a daily basis. It assists them in managing complex and urgent situations involving elderly patients throughout their care pathways, while also strengthening coordination between community and hospital care.
A prompt, expert, and tailored response.
Easily accessible by phone, COGERT enables healthcare professionals to obtain:
- medical or therapeutic advice;
- guidance for referring patients to specialized services (such as the cognitive-behavioral unit at the university hospital, specialized consultations like CEGERM, or the mobile geriatric unit), or to appropriate partners;
- direct admission to a hospital ward without going through the emergency department (21% of calls in 2023);
- teleconsultation or tele-expertise depending on the clinical situation;
- or a fast-track geriatric consultation.
COGERT also acts as a liaison with existing territorial coordination systems and medical and rehabilitation care facilities, and, when necessary, facilitates referrals to other hospitals in the region, such as those in Riom, Thiers, Issoire, or Vichy.
COGERT – Geriatric Hotline
To contact COGERT and reach a geriatrician:
📞 04 73 750 800
🕗 Monday to Sunday (including public holidays) | 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM
📌 This number is reserved for healthcare professionals (physicians and advanced practice nurses).
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A strong local presence
In 2023, COGERT handled nearly 2,700 calls. The patients concerned were mostly women (62%), with an average age of 87.6 years, compared to 85.5 years for men (38%).
Approximately 60% of the cases involved patients living in Clermont-Ferrand and its urban area, while 40% came from Riom and the Combrailles region, demonstrating strong territorial coverage.
A tool to help avoid unnecessary hospital admissions
The core mission of COGERT is clear: to avoid emergency room visits when hospitalization is necessary, by directing patients straight to a short-stay geriatric unit (CSG). In 2023, more than one in five calls led to a direct admission to a CSG, offering a safe, rapid, and more appropriate alternative for elderly patients.
Beyond hospitalization, COGERT acts as a support system for medical coordination, accurately guiding each situation to the most suitable structure while maintaining close ties with local healthcare providers. It is fully aligned with a patient-centered care pathway, where every actor—from community to hospital—can rely on a single expert point of contact to deliver a response that is timely, tailored, and focused on the specific needs of older adults.
