Kent Hospital announced it has received distinction as a NICHE Hospital (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) designating its commitment to elder care excellence as determined by thorough review and evaluation by an independent and international review panel focused on improving elder care.
The NICHE designation signals Kent Hospital's dedication to providing patient-centered care for older adult patients. Through Kent's participation in the NICHE program — a leading elder care nursing program — the hospital is able to offer evidence-based, interdisciplinary approaches that promote better outcomes, positive experiences, and improved care for older adults. This leads to greater satisfaction rates for patients, their families and staff.
"Achieving NICHE designation is a great accomplishment for Kent Hospital and for our elderly patients throughout the community," said Michael Dacey, Jr., MD, Kent Hospital president and COO. "I am extremely proud of the team of nurses at Kent for their dedication and commitment to becoming a NICHE hospital and providing high-quality care to our elders."
"The Kent Hospital nursing staff has made this distinction possible through education and implementing evidence-based best nursing practice related to the care of our elderly patients," said Rebecca Burke, RN, MS, NEA-BC, SVP, Patient Care Services, chief nursing officer, Kent Hospital. "The NICHE program provides us a framework to further improve our practice around the quality and safety of this very important and growing segment of our population."
NICHE is an international program designed to help improve the care of older adults. The vision of NICHE is for all patients 65 and over to be given sensitive and exemplary care. The mission of NICHE is to provide principles and tools to stimulate a change in the culture of health care facilities to achieve patient-centered care for older adults. NICHE, based at NYU College of Nursing, has more than 550 hospitals and health care organizations from the U.S., Canada, Bermuda and Singapore in the network.
"Kent Hospital shows a tremendous commitment to meet the most critical challenge of our times - quality care of older adults," says Barbara Bricoli, MPA, executive director, NICHE. "The hospital's dedication to drive continuous improvement processes and enhance care marks them as leaders in the field."
Kent Hospital, a Care New England Hospital, is a 359-bed, acute care hospital. It is Rhode Island’s second largest hospital, serving approximately 300,000 residents of central Rhode Island.
A teaching affiliate of The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kent offers programs in Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and an Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Fellowship. Kent’s redesigned Emergency Department (ED) sees approximately 70,000 patients a year and ranks Kent’s ED volume among the top 10-percent nationally. It was the first hospital in the state to eliminate the practice of ambulance diversion.