## Breadcrumb - [Home](/) - [Resources & Support](/resources-support) - [PD Library](/resources-support/pd-library) ## Breadcrumb - [Home](/) - [Resources & Support](/resources-support) - [PD Library](/resources-support/pd-library) Podcasts # Episode 188: Improving Safety and Parkinson’s Care in the Hospital People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are at a higher risk of being hospitalized and often face even greater challenges once admitted. Of the more than 1 million people living with PD in the US, nearly one third are hospitalized each year. During a hospital stay, they are more likely to receive the wrong medication, encounter missed or delayed dosages, receive medications known to worsen PD symptoms, experience limited mobility, and face a higher risk of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). These gaps in care can lead to avoidable complications, longer hospital stays, and worse overall health outcomes. The Parkinson’s Foundation [Hospital Care Initiative](/living-with-parkinsons/care-programs/hospitalization "Hospitalization"), launched in 2020, aims to eliminate preventable harm and promote higher quality PD inpatient care. Through this initiative, the Foundation provides hospitals with the opportunity for education, training, expertise, and the guidance necessary to improve hospital care for people with PD. As a component of this work, the Parkinson’s Foundation [Hospital Care Learning Collaborative](/resources-support/professionals/our-care-strategy/hospital-care-initiative "Hospital Care Initiative") was established to foster a peer-led group of hospitals, emergency departments, and health systems committed to improving care for people with PD. This national network of hospital and clinical leaders share best practices and lessons learned from national experts to enhance care before, during, and after hospitalization. In this episode, we speak with Rebecca Miller, an associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry, and a person living with young-onset Parkinson’s. She is joined by Leslie Pelton, a senior program officer with the John A. Hartford Foundation. Together, they do a deep dive into why hospital safety is especially critical for people with Parkinson’s and highlight ongoing efforts to advance safer care, including initiatives such as the Age-Friendly Health Systems and the 4Ms framework. During the episode, Leslie mentions the [4Ms Worksheet](https://www.agefriendlycare.psu.edu/older-adults-and-their-caregivers) and [My Health Checklist](https://www.ihi.org/partner/initiatives/age-friendly-health-systems/my-health-checklist) as additional tools for preparing for a hospital visit. **Released: March 6, 2026** - ### About Rebecca Miller, PhD [Rebecca (Becca) Miller, PhD](https://www.rebeccamillerphd.com/about), is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at the Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. She received her masters and doctorate from Long Island University, Brooklyn, and currently works as Director of Peer Support at the Connecticut Mental Health Center in New Haven, CT. Becca was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease at age 39 after living with undiagnosed symptoms for 10 years prior. She has served as a delegate and spoken on YOPD and parenting at the World Parkinson Congress in Portland, OR and Kyoto, Japan. She had DBS surgery in 2021 and currently lives in New Haven, CT, with her teenage daughter. ![Rebecca Miller headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/no_sizing/public/images/rebecca-miller.jpg?itok=LQvOoJj5) - ### About Leslie J. Pelton, MPA [Leslie J. Pelton, MPA](https://www.johnahartford.org/about/staff/leslie-pelton), is a senior program officer at The John A. Hartford Foundation. She is an outcome-oriented leader who catalyzes innovation in health systems and transforms passion into impactful action. She brings more than twenty years of experience partnering with health care leaders to transform how care is delivered and has brought these talents to the improvement of health and health care of older adults and their family caregivers in community, health care practices, hospitals and nursing home-based care. Leslie is a nationally recognized leader in the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement improving the health and health care of older adults across the US. ![Leslie Pelton headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/no_sizing/public/images/leslie-pelton.jpg?itok=HPoY67kT) ## Want more? Don't forget to subscribe! There are many ways to listen: [**Apple Podcasts**](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/substantial-matters-life-science-of-parkinsons/id1230808948), [**TuneIn**](https://tunein.com/podcasts/Health--Wellness-Podcasts/Substantial-Matters-Life-p989480/) (Amazon Echo), [**Spotify**](https://open.spotify.com/show/7dO47sFw9vBjnhsdg7zEaN) or [**RSS Feed**](http://parkinson.libsyn.com/website). (Need help subscribing? [**See our quick guide**](/sites/default/files/documents/how_to_subscribe_to_our_podcast.pdf "how_to_subscribe_to_our_podcast.pdf").) For all of our *Substantial Matters* podcast episodes, visit [**Parkinson.org/Podcast**](/resources-support/online-education/podcast "Podcast: Substantial Matters"). ## Related Materials Books ### [ Hospital Safety Guide ](/library/books/hospital-safety-guide) [Read Now](/library/books/hospital-safety-guide) Fact Sheets ### [ Parkinson's Hospital Care Infographic ](/library/fact-sheets/hospital-care) [Read Now](/library/fact-sheets/hospital-care) Podcasts ### [ Episode 170: Introducing Our Hospital Safety Guide ](/library/podcast/170) [Listen Now](/library/podcast/170) ## Related Blog Posts ![Nurse assisting patient out of hospital bed](/sites/default/files/styles/500x360/public/images/Active-in-hospital.jpg?h=5193ff8a&itok=ytiJQiQ_) Science News ### [ Study Shows Staying Active in the Hospital Benefits People with Parkinson’s ](/blog/science-news/staying-active-in-hospital) READ NOW ![Female doctor talking to hospital patient in bed](/sites/default/files/styles/500x360/public/images/Hospital%20risks%20preview.png?h=9105c3fe&itok=DGq7hCFb) Raise Awareness ### [ From Fear to Care: How to Address Parkinson’s Hospital Risks ](/blog/awareness/address-hospital-risks) READ NOW ![Older woman laying in a hospital bed holding her adult daughter's hand and speaking to a doctor](/sites/default/files/styles/500x360/public/images/hospital-complications.jpg?h=ed9ce7df&itok=6UZyxveR) Advancing Research ### [ 4 Ways People with Parkinson’s Can Avoid Common Hospital Complications ](/blog/research/tips-hospital-complications) READ NOW ### Order a Parkinson’s Hospital Safety Guide The Hospital Safety Guide is a resource for people with Parkinson's and their care partners filled with useful tools and information to prepare for and navigate a hospital stay. [ORDER NOW](/resources-support/pd-library/order-publications) [LEARN MORE](/resources-support/hospital-safety-guide) - Share on Facebook - Share on X - Share on LinkedIn