Southern Regional Medical Center has earned recognition as a Member of
NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders) program, a national
initiative based at the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New
York University that focuses on providing special care to older adult patients.
As part of NICHE, the nursing team in Southern Regional’s Senior
Care ACE (Acute Care for the Elderly) Unit participated in geriatric-sensitive
trainings designed to improve the care of hospitalized older adults through
the Geriatric Resource Nurse (GRN) program. The NICHE program seeks to
effect changes in nursing practice that benefit older hospitalized patients
and ultimately achieve patient-centered care for older adults. These goals
are reached through increased nursing knowledge and skills concerning
treating common geriatric diagnoses.
“This recognition acknowledges that our hospital’s Senior Services
Nursing Team has the training and compassion to provide exemplary care
for our older adult patients,” states Charlotte W. Dupré,
President and Chief Executive Officer at Southern Regional Medical Center.
“We are honored to be part of the NICHE Program, as it is a clear
indication of Southern Regional’s continued commitment to providing
the highest quality of care for our senior patients.”
Southern Regional’s 20-bed ACE Unit offers a dedicated healthcare
team of NICHE-trained registered nurses and nursing assistants, supported
by therapists, dietitians, and pharmacists who all provide geriatric care
with compassion and awareness of these patients’ specific needs.
Every patient receives a specialized assessment which the healthcare team
uses to develop an individualized care plan, including continuum of care
at home or an appropriate facility. From the moment a patient arrives,
the team coordinates care and formulates discharge planning to ease the
transition from hospital to home or living facility.
Southern Regional began the implementation of becoming Member of the NICHE
Program last year. The hospital’s goal is to provide quality care
for older patients and support for their families by simultaneously enhancing
the expertise of frontline nursing staff, accelerating the implementation
of evidence-based care approaches, and generating scientific knowledge
at the point of care.
Anyone interested in more information on the Senior Care Services at Southern
Regional can call 770-991-8105.
Southern Regional is located at 11 Upper Riverdale Road, Riverdale, GA,
and has served the southern crescent of metro Atlanta and beyond since
1971. The hospital has been a member of the Prime Healthcare Foundation
since 2017.