More diversity in studies is needed to improve the generalizability of research on the ACE program. Issues concerning external validity and contamination of intervention groups also limit the current data. To increase diversity in ACE research, studies need to be conducted outside of Ohio and on different populations of patients. Rigorous studies should be conducted, especially prospective case-control studies with large sample sizes. This will increase the generalizability of ACE studies and create a stronger case for their effectiveness and implementation.
No studies assess the implementation of the ACE model in diverse hospital settings. Currently, ACE units are most prevalent in urban or university 18 and 25 and in hospitals with greater revenue.18 There are no data to suggest why ACE units are most prevalent in these areas. Examination of the implementation process and interim outcomes outside of urban, university hospitals is important to support the utility of the model throughout the United States.
Perhaps the largest drawback of the ACE program is the necessity of a devoted unit with specialized features to care for patients. Given the skyrocketing prevalence of older adults in inpatient units, there may not be sufficient capital to create ACE units to treat all older adult patients. It may be necessary to pick and choose which patients and conditions warrant admission to the ACE unit. Unfortunately, the principles of ACE require environmental changes to the unit, which limits the ability of the ACE principles to be applied in non-ACE units.
HELP Program
Available evidence on the HELP program suggests that the program improves some clinical outcomes for older patients. Data show that patients in the HELP program have decreased incidence of delirium, cognitive impairment, sleep deprivation and use of sedatives, immobility, and dehydration.26 and 30 Beyond clinical effectiveness, there is apparent satisfaction with the model reported by patients, family members, and nurses.28 and 29 However, this does not include the satisfaction of those who refused to complete surveys. Overall, these findings suggest that HELP may be an effective program that is well received by laypersons as well as clinical staff.
The available research on the HELP program is generally high quality. There are multiple rigorous studies with large sample sizes, which reflect an ability to detect differences in outcomes. Studies examine not only clinical outcomes but also satisfaction and implementation of the HELP program. Although there is a good base of evidence to support the HELP program, the evidence should be expanded.
Blinding data collectors can enhance construct validity. External validity can also be increased through the implementation of more RCTs. Topics should be expanded to include long-term patient outcomes, cost-effectiveness, staffing, funding, and adherence to the HELP model. Cost-effectiveness and funding particularly require future examination. It has not been shown that hospitals can all afford a HELP coordinator fully implement the HELP protocol. The expansion of research to include these topics can increase the strength of the clinical outcomes of HELP. It also can assist hospitals to understand the necessary staffing and funding to implement HELP. Future research can strengthen HELP's evidence and assist in the implementation of HELP.
NICHE Program
Current evidence for the NICHE program is limited to 2 studies. Other reviews have been published on the NICHE program, but they do not meet the requirements of a scientific research paper; instead, they are reviews of how individual hospitals felt about implementing NICHE.
This research suggests that the NICHE program is effective at improving geriatric nursing knowledge, institutional values of geriatric care, and the use of evidence-based practice in geriatric care.33 The reports available support the goals of NICHE to promote nursing culture. It is important to look beyond the promotion of nursing culture when evaluating NICHE. Research needs to evaluate how the implementation of NICHE affects patient outcomes, such as functional status, ADL performance, and overall well-being.
Research on NICHE should be widely expanded. RCTs and prospective case control trials are needed to support the effectiveness of the NICHE program. There is no research available that examines objective patient clinical outcomes, cost of implementation, or satisfaction with the NICHE program. Research on patient outcomes includes length of stay, performance of ADLs, functional decline during hospitalization, and discharge location. Research on patient outcomes, patient and clinical staff satisfaction, and cost of implementation can help to determine whether NICHE improves patient care and is valued by health care team members. It is important to determine whether NICHE improves patient outcomes and can be effectively implemented in a wide range of acute care areas before it is recommended for use for the general hospital population.
Implications for Research, Practice, and Education
Given the large population of acutely ill geriatric patients spending time in the hospital and the large amount of hospital resources that these patients use, it is of great importance that acute geriatric care becomes a focus of nursing research and education. ACE, HELP, and NICHE are 3 well-developed models of acute care for older hospitalized patients. There has been initial research on all 3 programs that suggest that they may be effective at improving patient outcomes. Further research is needed to elaborate on the benefits of each program for patients, health care providers, and hospitals. It is imperative that the nursing profession focus research on the ACE, HELP, and NICHE models. Geriatric patient outcomes reflect deeply on the nursing care that is provided to older patients. If nursing is to continue to improve care of geriatric patients, models must be used to guide care. These models require strong evidence that supports their efficacy.
Nurses at every level of care and administration must be aware of the effects of models of geriatric care on nursing practice. In all adult settings, nurses will care for geriatric patients at some point in their career. It is imperative to stay abreast of the developments in caring for elderly patients. The 3 models currently in use and discussed in this article (ACE, HELP, and NICHE) all have unique aspects, and initial research suggests that they are effective at improving patient outcomes. Therefore, hospitals need to assess all 3 models and the evidence associated with them and choose which best fits their needs as a hospital. Hospitals should introduce a model of care for geriatric patients and closely track outcomes. Outcomes that should be tracked include patient clinical outcomes, use of the interdisciplinary team, satisfaction, staff education, and cost-effectiveness. Nurses can then make changes as needed to tailor the model to their needs. Nurses and hospitals can also contribute to the available research on the models. Nurses will find that use of a geriatric model of care can decrease patient length of stay, cost of care, and inpatient complications; it can also increase patient satisfaction, nurse satisfaction, and positive patient outcomes. Use of ACE, HELP, or NICHE is imperative to improve hospital care of older patients.