Interdisciplinary Team Training in Geriatrics:
An Essential Component of Quality Healthcare for Older Adults
Introduction
The rapid growth of our older population poses unique challenges for the U.S. healthcare system. Geriatric care can be complex and time intensive, and many medical, psychosocial, and functional issues must be addressed simultaneously. For treatment to be effective, it must be carefully coordinated. The use of an interdisciplinary team (IDT) is an accepted and well-developed model for care coordination. IDTs have been successfully implemented in a variety of settings and have been shown to improve healthcare outcomes.
IDT training is already integrated into the curricula of some professional training programs, including programs in geriatric medicine, hospice and palliative medicine, nursing, social work, pharmacy, and psychology. However, formal education in working in IDTs remains inadequate in most professional training programs.1, 2 In addition to being trained in discipline-specific aspects of geriatric care, all healthcare professionals must be trained to work in a well-functioning IDT in order to provide optimal care for older adults.3
The Partnership for Health in Aging endorses all efforts to support and implement IDT training in geriatrics, including expansion of programs funded under Title VII of the Public Health Services Act: (1) the Geriatric Education Center (GEC) interdisciplinary training programs, and (2) the Geriatric Academic Career Awards (GACAs), whose recipients are required to provide training in clinical geriatrics, including interdisciplinary teams.
This Position Statement is addressed to those groups that can influence the development and expansion of academic and continuing education programs in IDT training, including professional associations, credentialing and licensing bodies, accreditation organizations, and university administrators. Because of the significant challenges to expanding the development and implementation of IDT training for health professionals, such training will only be successful with substantial and sustained advocacy from the above professional groups. This Position Statement emphasizes the urgent need for interdisciplinary teamwork as an essential educational component for all health professional trainees working with older adults.
Developed by the Partnership for Health in Aging
Workgroup on Interdisciplinary Team Training
Marcos Montagnini, MD, Chair
Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine
Director, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program
University of Michigan
Director, Palliative Care Program
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
Robert M. Kaiser, MD, MHSc Co-Chair
Attending Physician, Geriatrics and Extended Care
Medical Director, Home-Based Primary Care Program
Washington, DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Associate Professor of Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care
Associate Director, Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine
George Washington University School of Medicine
Phillip G. Clark, ScD
Professor and Director
Program in Gerontology and
Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center
University of Rhode Island
Melanie A. Dodd, PharmD, PhC
Associate Professor of Pharmacy in Geriatrics
College of Pharmacy
University of New Mexico
Carol Goodwin
Associate Vice President
American Geriatrics Society
Vyjeyanthi S. Periyakoil, MD
Director, Stanford Palliative Care Education & Training
Director, eCampus Geriatrics (http://geriatrics.stanford.edu)
Director, VAPAHCS Inter-professional Fellowship in Palliative Care
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford, CA
Dee Ramsel, PhD, MBA
Director of Training, VHA National Center for Organization Development
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Medical College of Wisconsin
Sandra E. Sanchez-Reilly, MD
Associate Professor and Palliative Medicine Section Chief
Hospice and Palliative Medicine Interprofessional Fellowship Program Director
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and
South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Medicine
San Antonio, TX
Todd P. Semla, MS, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Department of Veterans Affairs
Pharmacy Benefits Management
Associate Professor, Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University
Heather Smith, PhD
Lead Psychologist & Palliative Care Interprofessional Fellowship Director
Zablocki VA Medical Center
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Medical College of Wisconsin
Katherine Supiano, MS, LCSW
Director, Caring Connections
Assistant Professor, College of Nursing
University of Utah College of Nursing
Ruth Ann Tsukuda, EdD, MPH, RN
Associate Director/Education
Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center
Portland VA Medical Center
Antonette Zeiss, PhD
Deputy Chief Consultant, Office of Mental Health Services
VA Central Office
