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Lakeland Earns NICHE Certification for Senior Care
Jun 13, 2014

(ST. JOSEPH) – Nearly 40 percent of the hospital patients for whom Lakeland cares are aged 65 or older. Lakeland has a special commitment to caring for these members of our community and is now one of only 500 hospitals in the United States designated as a NICHE facility systemwide. NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) is the only national designation indicating a hospital’s commitment to elder care excellence.

“Providing quality care for older adults often involves complex health issues that are beyond the scope of expertise and training of any one clinician, so teamwork is essential. The NICHE program offers an array of innovative and specialized gerontological practice models and other resources that use interdisciplinary care teams in a variety of settings across the continuum of care,” said Laurie Matthews, MSN, RN, CHPN, Geriatric Resource Nurse and NICHE Coordinator, Lakeland Health. “Although NICHE is a nurse-driven program, all disciplines, including physicians, can access NICHE resources.”

The NICHE program methods are designed to improve geriatric patient outcomes as well as satisfaction levels among patients and their families. Learn more about NICHE at www.nicheprogram.org.