Geriatrics training in physical medicine and rehabilitation

A survey was conducted to determine the level of training in geriatrics in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) residency training programs. Questionnaires were sent to 76 accredited programs in 1989 with a 63% (48/76) response rate. Results show that 49% of patients cared for by PM&R residents in inpatient settings are 65 years of age or older, and 42% of patients cared for in ambulatory settings are in the same age group. Of PM&R programs, 30% have physician faculty who are geriatric "specialists." PM&R residents have a significant exposure to elderly patients in the consultation role. Less exposure to elderly patients occurs in distinct geriatric rehabilitation and geriatric medicine programs or units. Among 10 medical specialties, PM&R programs compare well in terms of teaching about the topics and the personnel that are important in geriatrics. This is due in part to an obvious overlap between the content of rehabilitation medicine and that of geriatrics. Furthermore, there is moderate interest in PM&R in developing fellowship training in geriatric rehabilitation. The need for more academic faculty who are geriatric "specialists," as well as the need for increasing PM&R exposure to distinctly geriatric settings as a part of training, is apparent.