Nikkie Gachot is regional director of market development for Marquis Health Consulting Services. The company manages Meadow Park Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Catonsville, MD. Meadowpark recently joined a five-year, federally funded palliative care study. This interview has been edited and condensed. To learn more, read a longer version that ran in the McKnight’s Clinical Daily newsletter.
Q: How did Marquis and Meadow Park Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center get involved with the UPLIFT-AD palliative care study?
A: We were in discussions with Gilchrist, a nonprofit provider of end-of-life care, about introducing palliative care services at Meadow Park when the study was introduced. This work has the potential to transform our approach to caring for skilled nursing residents with dementia diagnoses, and to extend their longevity.
Q: What is your approach?
A: Our collaboration extends facilitywide. Nurse practitioners from Gilchrist are providing the services and insights on the practice of palliative care and teaching staff to help identify residents who might be appropriate for the UPLIFT study. Outside UPLIFT — which is specific to long-term care residents with dementia diagnoses — we are introducing palliative care for residents with chronic illnesses, such as congestive heart failure. Moving ahead, Meadow Park will evaluate candidacy of new admits and residents transitioning from short- to long-term care.
Q: How will this teach others about palliative care?
A: Data collected via Meadow Park’s ERM system throughout the study will inform University of Maryland School of Social Work research on using palliative leaders to transform care for Alzheimer’s disease.
From the December 2022 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
