NICHE in the geriatric emergency department (GED): The pivotal role of geriatric nurse champions and leaders in interprofessional GED care excellence.

Older adults need specialized care in the emergency department (ED) setting. Geriatric ED (GED) guidelines and the Geriatric ED Accreditation (GEDA) program address these unique needs with specific recommendations and requirements. These recommendations and requirements align with the Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) practice model.

Driving change: NICHE community engagement, integration, and adoption initiatives.

As NICHE enters its fourth decade, it is a nursing innovation that has endured and adapted to meet the needs of older adults by fortifying the geriatric nursing workforce. Examining "Why NICHE and why now?" to guide NICHE implementation is important for the NICHE program and its members. The next steps for the NICHE community aim to build on our collective strengths, deepen integration with established geriatric quality programs and nursing professional organization partners, and increase the adoption of the NICHE practice model.

The NICHE Coordinator: A key leadership role in the NICHE practice model.

This month we focus on the role of the NICHE Coordinator, who leads NICHE program activities to advance the use of evidence-based practices that improve the quality and safety of care delivered to older adults in healthcare delivery settings. We present a new leadership development class for NICHE Coordinators to enhance their overall effectiveness with implementing the NICHE practice model in their organizations.

Data-driven decisions for reducing readmissions for heart failure: general methodology and case study.

Background: Several studies have focused on stratifying patients according to their level of readmission risk, fueled in part by incentive programs in the U.S. that link readmission rates to the annual payment update by Medicare.