The American Geriatrics Society - News - AGS'2008 Virtual Annual Meeting -- Featuring Key Presentations from Premier Conference on Aging Research -- Now Online

For Immediate Release:
May 27, 2008

For more information:
Joe Douglas
212-308-1414

American Geriatrics Society's 2008 Virtual Annual Meeting -- Featuring Key Presentations from Premier Conference on Aging Research -- Now Online

The American Geriatrics Society's (AGS) Virtual 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting -- featuring more than 60 sessions from the Society's April 30 - May 4 annual meeting in Washington, D.C. -- is now online. AGS' yearly meeting is the premier conference on aging research. More than 600 leading geriatrics researchers and clinicians presented cutting-edge scientific papers, posters, symposia, core curriculum sessions, and workshops during the 2008 meeting.

The virtual meeting includes 63 of the most popular sessions from the D.C. meeting. Web casts of the highly diverse sessions include synchronized slides and audio. For additional sessions that are not Web cast, handouts are available. Those who attended the 2008 annual meeting can access the entire virtual annual meeting, at http://www.capitalreach.com/rt/ags9800/, for free using the usernames and passwords they received via email. Non-attendees can purchase access to either the entire virtual meeting or to individual sessions. Some sessions are available to the public at no cost.

On a staggered schedule, AGS will be offering CME opportunities for many of the sessions. The Virtual Annual Meeting will be accessible for one year.

Featured free sessions of the 2008 Virtual Annual Meeting include:

How Much Do You Know About Advocating For Public Policy Change Through Grassroots Efforts?
Designed to help advocates of quality elder healthcare develop the skills they need to communicate with elected officials and influence health policy related to geriatrics, this workshop offers an overview of how health policy is made in Washington and who the key players are. The session features speakers Charles A. Cefalu, MD, and Marie A. Bernard, MD, of AGS' Public Policy Committee, and Christopher T. Cushing, of AGS' policy consulting firm, Wolf Block Public Strategies.

Release of the IOM Study on the Future Healthcare Workforce for Older Americans Plenary Session
During this session, panelists including AGS President John Murphy, MD, and the chair and several members of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) committee that authored "Retooling for An Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce," discuss the report's findings and implications. The April 14 report warns that the nation's healthcare workforce is too small and unprepared for care for the aging population and calls for sweeping changes to avert this looming healthcare crisis. Dr. Murphy moderates as IOM committee chair John W. Rowe, MD, provides an overview of the study's findings. IOM committee and AGS members David B. Reuben, MD, Marie A. Bernard, MD, and Terry T. Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, examine the three-pronged approach the report recommends for addressing shortcomings in the nation's healthcare system. Members of the audience offer comments and ask questions.

The Impact of Religion on the Health of Older Adults: Doorway Thoughts
This session examines the impact religious beliefs and practices have on the health of older adults from diverse religious and spiritual backgrounds. Speakers include the authors of AGS' newly released Doorway Thoughts, Volume III, which explores the role of religion in health decision-making in the U.S. Co-authored by both religious leaders and healthcare professionals, this third volume in the Doorway Thoughts series investigates how developing an understanding of different religious groups can help clinicians effectively care for their older adult patients. The book focuses on: American Indian Traditions and Theologies; Buddhism; Christianity; Hindu; Islam; Judaism; Shamanism; Sikhism; Taoism and Confucianism. Moderated by Doorway Thoughts III contributor Vyjeyanthi S. Periyakoil, MBBS, MD, the panel also includes co-authors Chaplain Bruce Feldstein, MD, and Ahmed Nezar Kobeisy, PhD. Doorway Thoughts, Volume III is now available at http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763759841/.

Using the PDA Version of Geriatrics at Your Fingertips (GAYF) in Teaching and Patient Care
This session is a guide to using the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) version of the 10th edition of AGS' acclaimed Geriatrics at Your Fingertips (GAYF 10) and applying it in patient care and teaching. The co-author of AGS' guide to using the PDA version of GAYF, Fred A. Kobylarz, MD, MPH, leads the workshop.

The new 10th edition of GAYF -- a comprehensive, compact guide to the healthcare needs of older adults -- has been completely updated. And the new GAYF for Pocket PCs and PDAs includes all of the comprehensive information found in the print edition, with more 100 tables largely focused on the latest drug information. In addition, the PDA version offers many special features: calculating equations for more than 20 commonly used formulas; assessment instruments, many of which calculate responses; algorithms for a variety of evaluation and management approaches; an easy to browse Table of Contents, detailed Index and simple Search Function; Bookmark and Notepad sections; a "Jump To" box for quick navigation to subsections contained on a single page; and a footnote navigation button.

The PDA version of GAYF is available at http://www.geriatricsatyourfingertips.org/front-back/pda.asp. It is free for AGS student members, $23.95 for AGS members, and $30.95 for non-members.

ABOUT THE AGS
Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (www.americangeriatrics.org) is a nationwide, not-for-profit association of geriatrics health care professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of all older people. The Society supports this mission through activities in clinical practice, professional and public education, research, and public policy. With an active membership of over 6,500 health care professionals, the Society has become a pivotal force in shaping attitudes, policies, and practices in geriatric medicine.