The rural interdisciplinary team training program: a workforce development workshop to increase geriatrics knowledge...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Geriatric Care
• Healthcare Workforce Development
• Rural Health Services Research

Background:

• The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) faces challenges in providing specialized geriatric care to older veterans in rural settings.
• There is a need for enhanced geriatrics knowledge and team-based skills among primary care clinicians and staff in rural VHA facilities.
• The VHA Office of Rural Health Geriatric Scholars Program aims to address these gaps through targeted educational initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the Rural Interdisciplinary Team Training (RITT) Program on geriatrics knowledge.
• To assess the effect of RITT on team development and collaboration among healthcare professionals.
• To determine the success of RITT in facilitating the development and implementation of quality improvement projects.

Main Methods:

• The RITT Program utilized an interactive, multi-modal workshop format including didactic sessions, case discussions, and role-playing.
• Participating clinic teams were tasked with developing and implementing a quality improvement project focused on challenges faced by older adults.
• The study evaluated outcomes across 80 VHA rural outpatient clinics in 38 states.

Main Results:

• The RITT Program demonstrated a positive effect on the geriatrics knowledge of participating clinicians and staff.
• The training fostered improved team development and collaborative practices within the interdisciplinary teams.
• Clinic teams successfully developed and initiated quality improvement projects addressing key geriatric care issues.

Conclusions:

• The Rural Interdisciplinary Team Training Program is an effective workforce development strategy for enhancing geriatric care in rural VHA settings.
• Interdisciplinary team training positively influences both individual knowledge and team dynamics, leading to practical improvements in care.
• The RITT model provides a scalable approach to improving the quality of care for older veterans in underserved rural communities.