Part One of a Three Part Series
(Part Two — Signature HealthCARE: Great Ideas in Practice
Part Three — Medical Cost Offset: The Role of Psychology at Signature HealthCARE)
The International Center for Long-Term Care Innovation is located in Louisville, Kentucky, among the city’s cluster of healthcare businesses. I had the opportunity to speak with John Reinhardt, President and CEO of the Innovation Center, about it’s structure, mission, and research.
The Center works in partnership with
- Researchers at the University of Louisville
- Nucleus, Kentucky’s Life Science and Innovation Center
- Signature HealthCARE, which owns 65+ long-term care facilities
The purpose of the LTC Innovation Center, according to Reinhardt, is to improve the quality of care and of life for residents. The collaboration of service providers and researchers allows for an exchange of ideas. Researchers hear from those in the field what needs to be studied and improved upon, and the products of the research can be tested within the many facilities owned by Signature.
Projects include a multi-sensory room to connect via sound and touch with people with late-stage dementia, and auto-hydration furniture to combat dehydration, described as a refrigerated table that dispenses liquid.
Teamwork is essential in long-term care, and the International Center for Long-Term Care Innovation creates a higher level team, partnering researchers, businesses, and service providers. Below, John Reinhardt with team members.
Dr. El,
This is amazing! I have to say, I'm surprised things like this are not happening in New York…or maybe I'm just not aware them. I would love to hear about innovative design, research etc. That's happening in my neck of the woods (New York City/ Long Island).
I am looking forward to the rest of your series.
Sue, while New York doesn't have the large nursing home chains that are commonplace in other parts of the country, there are "continuums of care" with hospitals, home care, hospice, adult day programs, and nursing homes that could collaborate with some of our colleges and universities to conduct research. I'd like to hear about that too. Please, readers, send me an email if you're aware of this type of research collaboration in New York or elsewhere. Thanks.