More than 600 nurses and healthcare professionals from more than 200 hospitals are expected to gather in Philadelphia April 10-12, 2013 for the annual NICHE [Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders] Conference at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel.

The annual 3-day NICHE Conferences are convened to share evidence-based innovations, research, and networking opportunities. The goal, according to NICHE, is to provide support to hospitals and other healthcare organizations in meeting the most critical challenge of our times - quality care of older adults.

Scheduled conference keynote speakers are:

Susan Reinhard, PhD, RN, senior vice president, AARP, chief strategist, AARP Champion Nursing in America

Sharon K. Inouye, MD, MPH, director, Aging Brain Center at the Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife in Boston, Massachusetts, Milton and Shirley F. Levy Family Chair, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School

Nicole Brandt, PharmD, BCPP, CGP, FASCP, associate professor, Geriatric Pharmacotherapy, director of clinical and educational programs, Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of MD School of Pharmacy

Betty Ferrell, PhD, MA, RN, FAAN, FPCN, CHPN, professor and research scientist, City of Hope Medical Center, Los Angeles.

Conference foci include:

• Medication management for older adult patients
• Dementia across the disease spectrum and across settings
• Innovations across the continuum of care
• Multi-disciplinary approach to improving the senior service

Gerontological nursing certification, becoming a senior-friendly health system, physical environment and heart failure workshops are also planned. More than 100 poster presentations on a variety of elder care subjects will be exhibited during the conference.

"This year's conference will truly forge new paths to innovative gerontological solutions," says Liz Capezuti, PhD, RN, FAAN, director - NICHE, Dr. John W. Rowe Professor in Successful Aging, New York University College of Nursing. "The event will equip attendees with a wealth of information to better care for our older adult patients."

About NICHE

NICHE is an international program designed to help hospitals improve the care of older adults. Based at the NYU College of Nursing in New York City, NICHE consists of more than 400 hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout North America.

For more information, visit: http://www.nicheprogram.org/.