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Geriatrics/Chronic Pain (Meyer 6)

Multidisciplinary, inpatient and day-hospital care with an emphasis on group education, relaxation training, behavior modification, biofeedback and medical management to improve quality of life.

Patient Population

Geriatric: ages 60 and up
Chronic pain: ages 17 and up
Diagnoses include:
Pain: chronic pain of all types; failed backs and necks, headaches, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, trigeminal neuralgia, atypical facial pain, fibromyalgia, abdominal pain.
Psychogeriatrics: all mental illnesses including depression, bipolar disorders, dementia, delirium, schizophrenia, Charles Bonet syndrome
Average length of stay: Psychogeriatrics, 35 days; pain, 17 days

Number of Beds

11 pyschogeriatric
8 chronic pain
Day Hospital 5 days per week

Nurse/Patient Ratio

1 RN: 3-4 patients

Rotation/Shifts

8 and 12 hours
Every third weekend 12 hours
Flexible, self-schedule

Skill Mix

60 percent RN

Orientation

6 weeks
New Grads: SPRING program

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Why I Choose Psychiatric Nursing

"There's a huge focus on teaching here. We have lunchtime learning lectures, workshops, and classes. Health care is always changing and it's nice to be at a hospital that's on the cutting edge, that's forward thinking and often molds the patient care practice that other hospitals follow."

—Devin Lowe, RN
Geriatrics/Chronic Pain Unit

More Food, Fewer Crises

The introduction of family-style dining last year has changed the atmosphere across Meyer 3, a locked unit that accommodates up to 22 patients, many of them diagnosed with schizophrenia or affective illnesses, such as bipolar disorder.

Read how introduction of Family-style dining has changed patient's attitudes.