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    Published on November 19, 2025

    Owensboro Health Earns NICHE Exemplar Status for Excellence in Elder Care

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    Owensboro, KY (Nov. 19) — Owensboro Health Regional Hospital has been recognized as an Exemplar Member by the NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) program — the highest level of implementation awarded for organizations that demonstrate leadership in geriatric nursing practice and Age-Friendly care.

    NICHE Executive Director Karen Mack announced the achievement in a formal letter, citing the hospital’s decade-long dedication to improving care for older adults, led by Dr. Bill Bryant, Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety. The NICHE review team commended Owensboro Health for its strong interdisciplinary approach, commitment to staff education and successful clinical outcomes in elder care.

    “This honor is a direct result of our nursing team, providers and leaders who have made care of the older adult a priority across our organization,” said Beth Steele, Chief Operating Officer of Owensboro Health and a registered nurse. “As a nurse, I know this recognition reflects deep compassion, clinical excellence, and the drive to keep improving care for our aging population. This achievement belongs to our team.”

    The NICHE program specifically recognized:

    • Over 40 Geriatric Resource Nurses (GRNs) and two Geriatric Patient Care Associates (GPCAs) across 14 NICHE-designated units
    • Innovative peer-to-peer education led by GRNs, such as delirium prevention, proper patient positioning and veteran recognition
    • Sustained improvements in fall prevention, with a measurable decrease in patient fall rates since 2023
    • Expansion of NICHE education to nursing students, strengthening future workforce knowledge

    “This is not a one-time accomplishment,” added Steele. “It reflects a long-term culture of geriatric excellence that we will continue to build on.”

    Joni Sims, Chief Nursing Officer, emphasized the strategic importance of the NICHE designation, saying, “Achieving Exemplar status affirms our system-wide commitment to Age-Friendly care. It’s a reflection of how we’ve embedded geriatric best practices into our nursing culture and clinical standards.”

    Jessica Crisp, Associate Chief Nursing Officer & System Quality at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, added, “Our nurses have embraced NICHE principles with heart and purpose. Their dedication to elder care is woven into daily practice, and this recognition celebrates that ongoing commitment.”

    NICHE is a national nurse-led initiative designed to support system-wide improvements in the care of older adult patients. Exemplar status is awarded only to hospitals that demonstrate the highest level of integration and outcomes across NICHE’s standards.

    About Owensboro Health

    Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering; Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital; Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center; the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprised of over 350 providers at more than 30 locations; four outpatient Healthplex facilities, a certified medical fitness facility, the Healthpark; a weight management program, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.

    On average each year, we have more than 19,000 inpatient admissions, deliver 2,000 babies and provide the region’s only Level III NICU. Owensboro Health physicians perform nearly 33,000 surgical procedures, including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries. Our physicians and staff have 90,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 1.25 million outpatient visits annually. Visit our home page for more information.