Why is interdisciplinary care important?
Geriatric medicine can be very complex.
Older patients may require a great deal of care from many different
healthcare professionals. In order to be sure that the best quality
care is given to the patient, geriatric professionals often work
together as a team to address the needs of their patients.
Who are the members of the interdisciplinary
care team?
The members of interdisciplinary care
team vary depending on the needs of the patient and the resources
of the healthcare institution. Geriatric interdisciplinary care
teams may include: physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists,
occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers,
and nurses.
Why is this important to students?
Students who are interested in geriatrics
can begin to learn about working with other healthcare professionals.
Some suggestions about how to do this:
-
If you do not have a geriatrics student
group at your school, start one. See the beginning of the
student website for "How to start a student chapter." Encourage
students from all disciplines to join your group.
-
If you already have a geriatrics
student group at your school, invite students from all healthcare
disciplines to attend your meetings. Or, host a geriatric
interdisciplinary care team at one of your meetings to describe
how they function.
Meet the Members of the Interdisciplinary Team -->
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