Reports identify positive outcomes and innovative initiatives related to older adult patient safety and transitions
NICHE Contact: Scott Bugg | 215-527-9351 | scott@tsivisuals.com
Reports identify positive outcomes and innovative initiatives related to older adult patient safety and transitions
NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) announces the release of two NICHE Hospitals Reports that identify positive outcomes and innovative initiatives at NICHE designated facilities related to older adult patient safety and transitions as a result of their NICHE Programs. The reports are part of a series published by NICHE. The reports can be downloaded here.
Hospitals and their initiative results included in the reporting are:
Transitions Reports
• Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Medical Center Lebanon, N.H. – 19% decrease in loss of functional status; 6-36% lower rates of delirium; reduced pressure ulcers from 6% to 2%
• Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont., Canada – GEM nurses initiated linkages to specialized geriatric services for 34.7% of patients, and initiated community support services referrals for 34.2% of patients
• Saint Mary’s Health Care, Grand Rapids, Mich. – Reduced transfer of patients to a higher level of care by 35% and improved patient satisfaction scores by 9%
• St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia, Mich. - Inclusion of clinical elements markedly increased compared to non-participating STARForUM facilities
• Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee, Wis. – Model reduced skilled nursing facilities patient readmissions by 7.9% and 10.4% at two participating hospitals
Patient Safety Reports
• University of Alabama at Birmingham – Under drug alert system fewer older adult patients received diphenhydramine (11.4% vs. 15.3%) and promethazine (6.8% vs. 10.3%)
• St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Houston, Tex. – Falls decreased, patient satisfaction improved, and length of stay decreased
• The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio – Falls decreased by 25%
• Campbellton (N.B., Canada) Regional Hospital, Campbellton – 83% of respondents were “satisfied/very satisfied” with the improved communication
• Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Mass. – Increased patient satisfaction (Press Ganey) and nurse response to pain (Press Ganey)
For full details, see the complete reports here.
The initial report in the Hospitals Reports series provides a summary of outcomes and initiatives from many care categories and hospital settings. Earlier topical reports deal with function, delirium, dementia, and operationalizing NICHE.
About NICHE
NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) is an international program designed to help hospitals improve the care of older adults. The vision of NICHE is for all patients 65-and-over to be given sensitive and exemplary care. The mission of NICHE is to provide principles and tools to stimulate a change in the culture of healthcare facilities to achieve patient-centered care for older adults. NICHE, based at NYU College of Nursing, consists of over 620 hospitals and healthcare facilities in the U.S., Canada, Bermuda and Singapore. For more information visit www.nicheprogram.org/.