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Interdisciplinary education in a community-based geriatric evaluation clinic
R B Rosher1, S B Robinson, D Boesdorfer
1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois, USA.
Teaching and Learning in Medicine
|December 1, 2001
Summary
This geriatric evaluation (GET) clinic offers interdisciplinary training for medical residents, effectively maintaining patient function and supporting caregivers. Further research is needed to confirm competency attainment.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Medical Education
Background:
- Increasing demand for geriatric care necessitates enhanced training for medical professionals.
- This article details a Geriatric Evaluation (GET) clinic designed to foster core geriatric competencies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the structure and function of a community-based Geriatric Evaluation (GET) clinic.
- To explore the educational opportunities for residents in geriatrics.
- To evaluate the clinic's impact on patient functional status and caregiver well-being.
Main Methods:
- The GET clinic operates in a Midwestern community, staffed by a geriatrician, gerontological nurse specialist, and social worker.
- Medical residents, medical students, and nursing students actively participate in clinic activities.
- Descriptive data and clinical outcomes were collected to assess effectiveness.
Main Results:
- The clinic experience aligns with the American Geriatric Society's core competencies.
- Patients demonstrated maintained functional status, and family caregivers reported positive effects.
- Residents and students reported excellent educational experiences.
Conclusions:
- The GET clinic serves as a valuable interdisciplinary educational model for geriatric training.
- Further investigation is required to definitively establish whether residents achieve core geriatric competencies through this program.