PREREQUISITES AND PLACEMENT IN THE CURRICULUM: Completion of all M3 Core Clerkships; M4 status
PURPOSE: In this geriatric medicine elective, students will learn about the mode of presentation of illnesses in older persons and how to assess multiple overlapping illnesses. The process and dimensions of geriatric assessment will be demonstrated, including the medical, cognitive, and functional abilities in the activities of daily living. The elective experience can be modified to students’ particular educational goals, both in terms of reading and activities during the elective.
COMPETENCIES: To understand the nature of illness in older persons; to understand the scope of providing care for older persons.
INSTRUCTIONAL FEATURES: The student will be introduced to geriatric medicine in a variety of settings. Students will have the ability to participate firsthand in the health care of older persons interacting with attending physicians and fellows as well as specialists in pharmacology and the associated health professions, all of whom have special expertise in the care of older patients. Students will also participate in twice weekly scheduled case conferences and teaching seminars. The elective experience can be modified to students' particular educational goals both in terms of reading and activities during the elective. The settings for this program in geriatrics include:
• The Geriatric Assessment and Reactivation Unit (GARU). An inpatient geriatrics unit at the University of Illinois Hospital where the goal is to "reactivate" older patients to an optional state of health and functioning using the multidisciplinary team approach;
• The Geriatric Assessment Clinic. Here new referrals for multidisciplinary assessment of geriatric disease processes are reviewed. Problems addressed include memory impairment, propensity to fall, polypharmacy, malnutrition, and the ability to perform routine activities of daily living;
• The teaching nursing homes affiliated with the University of Illinois. Students will make rounds and assess patients one-half day a week under the supervision of an attending physician;
• West Side Veterans Administration Medical Center. Students will participate in consulting rounds, in the outpatient clinic, and in the Geriatric Evaluation and Management Unit (GEM); and
• Home Health Services: The opportunity is available for those who choose to make home visits.
ASSESSMENT: Students will be given feedback on the rotation at each site based on clinical performance. Knowledge and skills acquired in this rotation will be judged in relation to student-based educational goals and objectives .
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION:
Program Number: ELEC 615
Location: UICMC/JBVA
Program Director: F.Perez,M.D., Laura Cortes (Coordinator) fperez04@uic.edu
Telephone: 312-996-7704
Duration: 4 Weeks
Night Call: No
Weekends: No
Students Accepted: Min. 1 Max. varies
Housestaff Used as Faculty: Yes
Lectures/Conferences/Faculty Contact: 5
Laboratory/Independent Study: 0
Outpatient: 8
Inpatient: Varies
Total Hours /Week: 40
KEY WORDS: Geriatric Medicine, Geriatrics, Gerontology, chronic illness, assessment, home visits.
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