Spinal Cord Injury Home Care Team recognized for Excellence
The Houston VA Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Home Care Team was recently honored with recognition as an Age-Friendly Health System.
This special designation by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), demonstrates the medical center and the SCI team’s commitment to care excellence for older adults.
“Houston VA is proud to join the ranks of organizations globally achieving success toward excellence in care for older adults,” said Dr. Mark Kobelja, Chief of Staff. “Our dedicated spinal cord injury home care team works hard to provide Veterans with the world-class care they deserve and have earned through their service to our country.”
Earning the distinction of an Age-Friendly Health System requires working toward reliable practice of a set of four evidence-based elements of high-quality care for all older adults, known as the 4Ms: What Matters, Medication, Mind, and Mobility. Houston VA’s SCI Care Line works to restore and maintain maximal health, independence, productivity, and quality of life of Veterans with SCI. This includes inpatient, outpatient and home care.
“The Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative falls directly in line with our overarching vision to provide every older adult in our community with the best care possible,” said Dr. Sally Holmes, Director of the Houston VA SCI Center. “Our goal is to work with our Veterans and their caregivers to improve their quality of life and address each Veteran’s health care needs on an individual basis. It is truly our honor and privilege to care for our Veteran patients.”
Age-Friendly Health Systems is an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and the IHI, in partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Catholic Health Association of the US (CHA). For more information, on the Age-Friendly initiative, visit www.ihi.org/agefriendly.