St. Elizabeth Hospital Recognized for Excellence in Elderly Care
All four hospitals that are part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System (FMOLHS) were recognized for quality and commitment to ongoing care of the elderly. St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, LA, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA, Our Lady of Lourdes in Lafayette, LA, and St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales, LA, earned the NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders) designation from The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University College of Nursing. This means elderly patients at these facilities can expect a higher level of care from a nursing team specifically trained to recognize and treat specific health conditions that affect the elderly.
“The NICHE designation for all four health system hospitals ensures that our nurses across the state are trained and can provide our elderly patients with the specialized treatment and care that address their specific social and physical needs,” said Karen Allen, President of Senior Services, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System.
Across the health system, many nurses and nursing leaders have completed NICHE training and are implementing the specialized treatment for patients 65 and older in FMOLHS hospitals.
“We are pleased to be a participant in this nationally-based program because it provides us a model that is standardized and evidence-based to ensure that we’re providing the best possible care we can to our elderly population. Better serving the needs of our aging population is one a strategic initiative and within our mission to serve those most in need,” said Leslie Norman, Vice President of Patient Care, St. Elizabeth Hospital.
About NICHE:
Established in 1992, NICHE is the only national nursing geriatric initiative to improve the care of older hospitalized adults and is comprised of more than 300 hospitals throughout North America. A program of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University College of Nursing, 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. Visit the NICHE website: www.nicheprogram.org
