Geriatric care managers: a collaborative resource to the physician practice

Strongly independent and/or socially isolated elders with multiple health problems are often a physician's most challenging patient. These patients typically require intensive follow-up including phone calls from concerned long distance relatives, frequent and urgent same day physician visits and recurrent hospitalizations. This article will describe the role of a professional geriatric care manager (GCM). This article will discuss how a GCM can greatly assist both frail elders and physicians through comprehensive and ongoing assessment of an elder's needs, implementation of an optimal plan of care and close monitoring and management of information and supportive services.