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Renown First in Nevada to Join National Effort for Seniors

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SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE

Renown Health is pleased to announce that it is the first and only health system in Nevada to earn the Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders (NICHE) designation from The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University College of Nursing. NICHE is the only national designation indicating a hospital’s commitment to elder care excellence.

“This effort is directed throughout the entire healthcare system, not just specific areas like emergency rooms, patient transport, etc.” said Kris Gaw, Chief Operating Officer at Renown Regional Medical Center. ” NICHE is the gold standard in terms of eldercare issues. We are so pleased to be a part of it.”

Renown Health is one of only 350 hospitals in the nation with this designation. Renown joins other prestigious hospitals like the Cleveland Clinic, Cedars Sinai Medical Center and Stanford Hospital who also have the NICHE-designation. The New York Times and National Public Radio have also featured stories about NICHE programs.

The NICHE network also includes numerous national healthcare associations like the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, the American Academy of Nursing Expert Panels on Acute and Critical Care, Aging, and Quality (AAN), the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), the Emergency Nurses Association and many more.

The NICHE nursing care models help hospitals improve care to better meet the needs of hospitalized older adult patients. These models have been implemented and tested at hospitals across the country and have been shown to be effective in improving clinical care and outcomes for elders during and following hospital admission.

Hospitals participating in NICHE report the following.

  • Enhanced nursing knowledge and skills regarding treatment of common geriatric conditions
  • Greater patient satisfaction
  • Decreased length of stay for older adult patients
  • Improved environmental design that enhances function and comfort for the aging population

According to Barnali Hiremath, MD, who is board-certified in geriatrics and a physician at Renown Medical Group for seniors, the NICHE designation is Renown’s continuing commitment to providing quality care for the senior population.

“Even prior to receiving our NICHE designation, Renown Health has been dedicated to providing access and comprehensive, quality care to our local senior population,” said Dr. Hiremath. “We know there are significant issues facing the aging population, including hearing and vision loss, falls due to balance and gait issues, medication management, life-changing medical issues such as heart disease, cancer and stroke. That’s why we proactively look for age-related changes that could impact the health and well-being of our aging patients. We also encourage patients to proactively manage their health by participating in screenings and educational lectures offered by Renown Health.”

To celebrate the NICHE designation, as well as May’s Older American’s Month, Renown Health is continuing to offer free membership to Smart Health Connection (SHC). This comprehensive healthy aging program designed to enhance the health and wellness of thousands of adults age 50+, and includes:

  • Free or low-cost classes and lectures on health-related topics
  • Low-cost monthly health screenings
  • Free subscription to “ Seasons,” a monthly newsletter that includes the latest health tips and news, ideas for staying active and a calendar of upcoming events

Any senior can register for Smart Health Connection by calling 775-982-5400.

For more information on NICHE, visit www.hartfordign.org. For more information about Renown Health’s designation, or to schedule interviews with hospital representatives, please contact Dan Davis at (775) 982-6370.

Renown Health is northern Nevada’s largest and Reno’s only locally owned not-for-profit integrated health network and a nationally recognized healthcare leader. Renown Health is one of the Top 100 integrated health networks in the country and the only Top 100 recognized integrated health networks in the state of Nevada.  We proudly offer the region an integrated solution for all of the community’s healthcare needs.

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