Grantee Name
New York University College of Nursing
Funding Area
Special Projects Fund
Publication Date
January 2015
Grant Amount
$286,456
Grant Date:
June 2010 – April 2014
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New York State currently has the third-largest population of older adults in the United States.
Older patients experience more complications during hospitalizations compared to any other age group, resulting in a host of problems that include lower survival rates, loss of independence, increased usage of rehabilitation services, and new placements in nursing homes. As of October 2008, hospitals no longer receive Medicare payment for eight complications, three of which—falls/fall injuries, pressure ulcers, and urinary tract infections—are known to occur more frequently in older patients and are found to be reduced when geriatric care models are used. It is therefore a priority for hospitals to avoid the costs associated with these complications. The Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) program has emerged as a national leader in improving geriatric care and has been adopted by nearly 300 hospitals nationally, including 18 in New York State. NICHE provides evidence-based clinical protocols and operational tools developed to improve elder care, as well as builds geriatric staff member knowledge and competence within participating hospitals.
In 2010, New York Health Foundation (NYHealth) awarded a grant to the New York University (NYU) College of Nursing to expand NICHE in rural New York State.