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Elective Title: 93MI890 — GERIATRICS

Description:

What do you need to know about older adults to be an intern? This elective will give you experience in the health care of older adults that will be fundamental for adult medical and surgical residencies. You will round with a geriatrician daily on an Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Service at IU Health Methodist campus. The goal of the ACE Service is to prevent functional decline or iatrogenic complications in patients age 65 and older during their hospitalization. This rotation offers the opportunity to work alongside geriatricians toward that goal as well as geriatrics fellows, Department of Medicine residents who are completing a one-month required geriatrics rotation, and other professionals who provide care to older adults. Additionally, you will see patients in the outpatient setting particularly to provide outpatient consultation to older adults. Similar to the inpatient ACE consults, the outpatient consults focus on maintaining function and independence toward optimizing quality of life.

Elective Details:

Primary Contact for Add/Drops: Glenda Westmoreland (gwestmor@iu.edu); Susan Duffy (spduffy@iu.edu)

Director: Glenda Westmoreland, M.D.

Campus: Indianapolis

Location: IU Health Methodist Hospital (Indianapolis)

Learning Objectives

  • 1) List important geriatric syndromes that may lead to functional decline if unrecognized and untreated (MK3)
  • 2) Recognize medications that may be harmful to older adults and recommend alternative medications (MK4)
  • 3) Recognize the importance of medication reconciliation for an older adult who is admitted to the hospital (SBP4)
  • 4) Respect the roles of other health care professionals in the care of older adults particularly those who are frail or admitted to the inpatient setting (SBP1)
  • 5) Appreciate patient autonomy in order to respect an individual’s health care wishes (P1)

Assessment

  • Clinical Performance Evaluation Form, Interdisciplinary Communication Assessment of Students, Patient Communication Assessment of Students, Written Communication Assessment; (Direct observation (by the clinical preceptors), observation by patients and clinical staff, and not less than a 1,000 word written reflection answering the question “What insight have you gained from this elective about a specific case that you will apply to your future care of older adults ” (reviewed by the elective director), and medication review for a patient seen during the elective (reviewed by the elective director) using a medication review worksheet).

Enrollment Information

Prerequisites: 4th year status

Availability with Max Students per Month:

AprMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovDecJanFebMar
111000111111

Duty Hours: 40

Time Distribution: 70% Clinical; 25% Library/Research; 5% Lecture/Seminar

Elective Type Category: CP - Clinical Practice

Notes and Enrollment Information:

Add/Drop Contact Person: Glenda Westmoreland (gwestmor@iu.edu); Susan Duffy (spduffy@iu.edu). THIS ELECTIVE DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE INITIAL SENIOR MATCH. If interested in enrolling in this elective, please contact Dr. Glenda Westmoreland (gwestmor@iu.edu) and Susan Duffy (spduffy@iu.edu) to request permission.

Third Year Elective? No

Interprofessional Skills and Service Learning

Interprofessional Collaborative Skills: Yes

Skills Description:

Service Learning Included: None