Best care for the elderly at Forsyth Medical Center

Health care organizations are very interested in the unique needs and resource utilization the aging population will create. This article describes the commitment of a large acute-care hospital to create a senior-friendly environment. The care of hospitalized elders has become a central focus to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities. An interdisciplinary team of professionals passionate about the care of the elder population was developed to champion the efforts, and the NICHE project was their starting point. This article describes the team and the methods they used to modify models and design processes to meet the needs of the organization and this patient population. Successes and opportunities for continued improvement also are identified.