Geriatric Services at Lakeview Regional Medical Center

Geriatric Services

Lakeview is honored to serve the health and wellness needs of our seniors by offering services specifically designed for older adults.  Patients or residents are transported to our hospital for a wide variety of treatments and are always met with a knowledgeable team of professionals.  In addition, Lakeview offers opportunities for the active seniors to stay active and informed about a variety of topics.  Services and programs offered for seniors include:

• Annual health screens
• Volunteer opportunities for the active seniors
• A dedicated Senior Behavioral Unit
• h2u (Health, Happiness, You) program dedicated to senior life  www.h2u.com
• Quarterly functions with guest speakers
• A multidisciplinary task force of Lakeview employees whose purpose is to facilitate safe, quality healthcare for seniors
• Cardiac Rehabilitation, Phase III.  Medically supervised exercise program.

Inpatient Programs

Lakeview works closely with nursing homes, assisted living centers, home health agencies, and rehabilitation hospitals so that the transition from facility to facility is as smooth as possible.  We have a team of hospitalist physicians who are prepared to accept transfers 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Our Emergency Room physicians are all board certified and work closely with physicians admitting from other senior health facilities.  Some other systems used to provide excellent inpatient care include:

• One-call system for transfers.  Only one phone number to call when a resident is sent to our facility, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week: (985) 373-7472
• Barcode scanning of medications, the industry gold standard
• Rapid-response teams for quick response to patient condition
  Daily updates from case managers
• Instant, electronic transfer of information to and from facilities (WENO) https://www.wenohealthcare.com
• Electronic Medical Record accessible to the nursing homes and physicians
• In-house wound care by licensed physical therapist
• Complete line of specialists physicians
• Detailed discharge planning involving family
• Expedited discharge procedures
• Medication reconciliation 
• ARJO minimum lift facility equipment used for the ease of transporting patients

Nursing Home Programs

Continuity of care is vital to safe, quality care for seniors.  By offering clinical services to the area nursing homes, Lakeview has become an integral part of the nursing home residents’ care.  Services provided by Lakeview become a part of the Medical Record, creating a linear electronic chart.  Results of tests, X Rays, and medications can be tracked without searching through mounds of paper!  Some Outreach Programs include:

• Laboratory services, with results available by automated faxing or electronically
• Blood samples drawn in the nursing homes by a dedicated phlebotomist (always the same phlebotomist)
• State-of-the-art digital CT scanning
• Placement of lines for vascular access
• Inservices to nursing home staff
• Dietary consults

Lakeview recognizes the importance of quality health care and wellness of seniors in our community.  Older adults and their families demand quality and safety, and Lakeview has a proven record in delivering the best health services across the continuum.