Geriatric Care Model Centers on Nurse Leadership

Once again, a nurse-led program is proving to be a model for hospitals that want to improve healthcare quality.

A study from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, which examined the early results of the Medicare Innovations Collaborative, suggests that the Nurses Improving Care to Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) program could be an effective model for improving hospital quality and safety for older adults.

The Medicare Innovations Collaborative is currently working with six health systems to test innovative programs that aim to improve care for Medicare patients with multiple chronic conditions.

One of those programs is NICHE, which provides clinical and organizational tools to improve hospital care of older patients. The program aims to add geriatric-specific equipment, supplies, and other resources to the nurses' practice. It also implements protocols and techniques that promote interdisciplinary collaboration.