Geriatric Medicine

Throughout medical residency and in conjunction with the Division of Geriatrics, residents participate in a broad learning experience in geriatric medicine. By working along with Geriatric Division faculty members and fellows in the inpatient, long-term, and ambulatory care settings, residents gain familiarity with the unique medical, functional, and psychosocial aspects of caring for the elderly.

While assigned to the inpatient Geriatric Care Unit, the resident performs the initial evaluation and provides ongoing care to acutely ill elderly patients. The resident is an instrumental member of the interdisciplinary geriatric team that meets daily to discuss the clinical care of the patients. Team meetings and case-oriented discussions allow the resident to enhance his/her clinical knowledge base while learning the skills to transition patients to ambulatory care services.

The resident is exposed to long-term care of the elderly while accompanying a geriatric physician on nursing home visits. During these sessions, the resident is immersed in the unique care provided to patients in skilled nursing facilities.

During ambulatory outpatient sessions, the resident learns about care of the “well elderly” and implements the recommendations of healthcare maintenance guidelines. Invaluable experience is gained by exposure to private practice medical and geriatric patients. To complete the course of geriatric medical care, the principles and clinical practice of the care of chronically ill, homebound elderly patients are acquired through the Geriatric Home Visit Program.

A student elective is available. A geriatric fellowship program is also available.

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