News

Beebe Medical Center Achieves National Designation

09/08/11

We in the healthcare industry know that older patients often suffer from unique clinical syndromes requiring additional knowledge on the part of the nursing staff. We at Beebe Medical Center also know that about half of our hospitalized patients are 65 years old and older and often require special care.

To enhance the quality of care for these patients, a Beebe Medical Center team recently completed the Leadership Training Program developed by Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University College of Nursing. This means that Beebe Medical Center is one of about 300 hospitals in the nation to receive the designation, Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystems Elders (NICHE).

Over the next year, Beebe Medical Center will be introducing educational opportunities for the nursing staff. This will allow Beebe Medical Center to implement the latest, evidence-based nursing protocols in the patient care areas. Other NICHE hospitals already are reporting benefits that include enhanced nursing and interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in the treatment of older adults and improved clinical outcomes, which are leading to greater patient and family satisfaction.

Joan Thomas, RN, Beebe Medical Center's Special Consultant to the President, is coordinating the program at Beebe. Other members of the NICHE Program Workgroup include:
" Suzanne Fritz, MSW
" Linda Sapienza, RN
" Amy Balasus, RN
" Denise Larson, RN
" Nancy Bastholm, RN
" Justine Donohoe, Pharmacist
" Margaret Porter, RN

Paul Minnick, RN, Vice President of Patient Care Services, is the Executive Sponsor. Preachess Vellah, MD, who is Board Certified in Geriatrics and Internal Medicine, serves as medical advisor.

The program is being introduced on 3MS under the direction of Nurse Manager Margaret Porter. Five nurses initially will be trained and will earn the Geriatric Resource Nurse (GRN) designation. Once implemented on 3MS, the program will be introduced throughout the hospital with more nurses being trained.

Beebe's NICHE program was recently kicked off with Margaret Porter, Joan Thomas, Denise Larson, and Amy Balasus sharing details with the nursing staff.

Jeff Fried, Beebe Medical Center President and CEO, thanked those who are pioneering the program. He pointed out that Beebe has the highest percentage of patients over 65 in the state, and that it is critical to have an expertise in caring for this population.

This is exciting for all of us, Paul Minnick said. We will collect data pre and post implementation of NICHE and will be able to see the positive effect evidence-based nursing practice has on patient care.

I am pleased that we are introducing this program to Beebe, Joan Thomas says. It will allow us to continually improve the quality of care that we offer our older population. And as we know, the retirement community represents a growing population in the communities that we serve.


Caption: An effort has been under way to enhance the comprehensive care of older patients at Beebe. Here are those who are leading the way. Left to Right - Denise Larson, Joan Thomas, Margaret Porter, Paul Minnick, Patti West, Suzanne Fritz, Case Management, Amy Balasus, RN, and Jeff Fried.

Beebe Medical Center is a not-for-profit community medical center with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health with the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. For more information, please visit us online at www.beebemed.org