Dr. Dierdre Carolan discuss the history of NICHE at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Inova Fairfax Hospital began the NICHE journey in 2001 and is now a nationally recognized exemplar NICHE program. Inova Fairfax Hospital also uses the Geriatric Resource Nurse (GRN) Model and online NICHE training is included in all new employee orientation and refresher courses provided.
Some of the outcomes seen at Inova Fairfax Hospital after NICHE was implemented include reductions in falls for hospitalized older adults and reduced rates of using restraints. In fact, one unit remained restraint free for 6 years.
Delirium and Dementia were more often recognized as two distinct syndromes that are not a normal part of aging. Standardized assessment tools such as the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) were incorporated into the electronic medical record to allow for earlier detection and reversal of delirium. This assessment tool and other geriatric specific tools are now part of the daily assessment for hospitalized older adults who are being cared for on the NICHE Unit.
Sharon Inouye, MD, MPH developed and validated the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), the most widely-used instrument for the identification of delirium and is a speaker at the 2017 NICHE Conference.
Show originally aired April 17, 2017
[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]About Melissa:
Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP, FGSA, FAAN. I am a nurse, nurse practitioner, nurse educator and nurse researcher with over 25 years of experience in the aging and long-term care healthcare space. You can visit my website at MelissaBPhD.com to learn more about me, how you can work with me directly,
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