The Landings & Bay Colony

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BROWARD HEALTH IMPERIAL POINT IS
BROWARD COUNTY’S FIRST AND ONLY
HOSPITAL TO RECEIVE 
NICHE “EXEMPLAR” STATUS

Status Reflects Hospital’s Ongoing, 
High-Level Dedication to Care of Older Adults

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roward Health Imperial Point (BHIP) is pleased to
announce it has achieved "Exemplar" status for its Nurses

Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) program,
making it the first and only hospital in Broward County to
receive this distinction. 

The NICHE designation underscores BHIP’s commitment to
excellence in the care of patients ages 65 and older. It also
recognizes the hospital’s ongoing, high-level dedication to
geriatric care and the implementation of high-quality, system-
wide interventions and initiatives that demonstrate
organizational commitment to the care of older adults.

The "Exemplar" status — the highest of four possible
program levels — was assigned following a rigorous
program evaluation of the current state and future goals of
BHIP’s NICHE program. The requirements include
implementation of the NICHE Geriatric Resource Nurse
(GRN) model and evidence-based protocols on all
applicable units, including specialty units; implementation of
systemic aging-sensitive policies; inclusion of the input of
patient, families, and community-based providers in planning
and implementation of NICHE initiatives and assuming
regional and national leadership roles.

“The NICHE designation and the ‘Exemplar’ status signal our
resolve to provide patient-centered care for older adults,”
said Sandra Todd-Atkinson, the hospital’s chief nursing and
operating officer. “Through our participation in the NICHE
program, we are able to offer evidence-based,

interdisciplinary approaches that promote better outcomes,
positive experiences and improved care for our older
patients. This leads to greater satisfaction rates for patients,
their families and our staff.”

The Annual Program Evaluation is used to determine the level
of their NICHE program. The evaluation benchmarks
program progress year-to-year, targets future care initiatives
and provides data to use in gaining and sustaining support
from institution stakeholders.

BHIP’s evaluation demonstrated a tremendous ability to meet
the needs of the older adult patient,” says NICHE Managing
Director Barbara Bricoli, MPA. “The hospital’s high-intensity
level in marshaling geriatric nursing resources and support to
enhance care marks it as a leader in the field.”

Broward Health, providing service for more than 75 years, is
a nationally recognized system in South Florida that offers
world-class healthcare to all. Broward Health includes
Broward Health Medical Center, Broward Health North,
Broward Health Imperial Point, Broward Health Coral
Springs, Chris Evert Children’s Hospital, Broward Health
Weston, Broward Health Community Health Services,
Broward Health Physician Group, Broward Health
International, Broward Health Urgent Care and Broward
Health Foundation. For more information, visit
BrowardHealth.org.

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Health & Fitness

BHIP Receives “Exemplar” Status

By Daniella Aird & Joseph Guastaferro