Hospital care for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) represents a nearly $8 billion crisis nationwide, driven largely by the fact that 1 in 6 patients suffer an avoidable complication during an inpatient stay due to rigid hospital systems. In response to this challenge, the Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute has pioneered a revolutionary solution: a multi-faceted Parkinson’s Disease Care Pathway built directly into the health network’s electronic health record (EHR).
The pioneering patient safety initiative—which originated at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) nearly a decade ago and has since expanded across the Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) network—served as the blueprint for new national care recommendations. By standardizing inpatient treatment, the system is successfully preventing life-threatening complications, shortening hospital stays, and lowering 30-day readmission rates.
“EHR-based Parkinson’s disease care pathways, like ours at HMH, standardize inpatient care through several key interventions designed to prevent common, life-threatening failures in hospitalized patients living with Parkinson’s,” Dr. Hooman Azmi, director of the Division of Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery at the Neuroscience Institute at HUMC. “We are preventing complications, shortening hospital stays, and saving money. This is about providing the best possible care for the patient in a way that’s smarter and more efficient for everyone.”
The HMH pathway enforces critical safeguards designed around the unique, time-sensitive needs of Parkinson’s patients:
- Time-critical medication: Strict protocols guarantee that all PD medications are administered within 30 minutes of their scheduled time to prevent severe symptom exacerbations.
- Medication safety alerts: An EHR “Banner Flag” immediately alerts providers to a PD diagnosis while automatically blocking contraindicated medications that can worsen symptoms.
- Proactive mobility: Mandates mobilizing patients at least three times daily to mitigate the risks of infection, delirium, and prolonged bed rest.
- Aspiration prevention: A vital safety rule requiring patients to sit upright and out of bed for all meals to prevent aspiration pneumonia.
The announcement of the network’s system-wide success coincides with a major national milestone: the Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at HUMC was recently named the only designated Comprehensive Care Center in New Jersey by the Parkinson’s Foundation.
National leadership in hospital safety and inpatient standards were heavily highlighted by the Foundation in awarding the designation, alongside HUMC’s multidisciplinary teamwork, specialized staff growth, robust psychology support, and innovative fast-track programs for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).
“As physicians, we are always seeking ways to improve patient outcomes. This Parkinson’s Care Pathway provides a systematic, evidence-based approach to a complex disease,” Dr. Umer Akbar, director of the Parkinson’s Foundation Comprehensive Care Center and Professor of Neurology at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, said. “By standardizing care—ensuring timely medication, preventing harmful drug interactions, and promoting early mobility—we are not just treating Parkinson’s, we are treating the whole patient.”
