Ongoing Development of Geriatrics Competencies

Geriatrics Competencies for Medical Students
Led by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and supported by the John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF), a minimum set of geriatrics competencies for the graduating medical student. The process included identification of measurable performance subtasks, associated with evidence-based geriatrics care and patient safety for PGY1s.   The minimum medical student competencies in geriatric medicine have been endorsed by the American Geriatrics Society and the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs, and are under review by several other organizations.

Internal Medicine/Family Medicine Residency Training
Led by the Society for General Internal Medicine (SGIM) with the AGS, AMA, American Board of Family Medicine, and Mount Sinai School of Medicine.  The goal of this effort is to achieve consensus on a minimum set of competencies in the care of older adults essential for all family and general internal medicine residents to possess at the end of their residency training.
Contact:  Julie Machulsky, machulskyj@sgim.org

Multidisciplinary Competencies at the Entry Level of Training
The Partnership for Health in Aging (PHA) Workgroup on Multidisciplinary Competencies in Geriatrics has developed universal entry-level (first practice level) geriatrics/gerontology competencies that are applicable to all healthcare disciplines.  Individual disciplines, and the PHA as a coalition, will use the competencies in their efforts to increase training in geriatrics.
Contact:  Li-Chia Ong Chansanchai at lchansanchai@americangeriatrics.org

Surgical and Related Medical Specialties
Through the efforts of the AGS/Hartford Geriatrics-for-Specialists Initiative (GSI), the American Medical Association, and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine,  geriatrics competencies have been identified for emergency medicine residents. In addition the GSI  convened a conference in May 2009 that brought together representatives of specialty Boards and Societies as well as members of Residency Review Committees.  At that conference, which was co-sponsored by the American Medical Association and the Council for Medical Specialty Societies, attendees considered a white paper that sets forth a plan for achieving the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation that all health care providers be competent to care for older adults by ensuring that all physicians receive adequate training on this front. Conference attendees have signed on in support of the white paper and the American Board of General Surgery convened a follow-up meeting attended by six Boards where work began on developing competencies for surgical residents (December 2009)