For Immediate Release:
May 17, 2004

For Further Information:
Scott Kramer
(702) 691-7204

Las Vegas, NV-Doorway Thoughts: Cross-Cultural Health Care for Older Adults © (ISBN 0-7637-3338-5), a publication focusing on overcoming the cultural disparities that influence the efficacy of primary care for seniors, is being unveiled today in conjunction with the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS).

From 12:00pm to 2:30pm, a corresponding symposium led by co-editor and AGS Ethnogeriatrics Outgoing Committee Chair Reva N. Adler, MD, MPH, FRCP will feature case studies illustrating key concepts from the book's chapters on individuals of African, Asian Indian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Hispanic, and American Indian descent.

Doorway Thoughts examines the influence of heritage and culture on personal interactions in a health care setting. The authors seek to help practitioners incorporate concepts like language and literacy, respectful nonverbal communication, immigration status, acculturation and culture-specific health risks into their everyday practice, allowing them to reach across subtle but tangible boundaries in providing care.

Dr. Adler believes that Doorway Thoughts "will be a useful tool in advancing the quality and outcomes of intercultural care across North America. It has been written as a concise and accessible source of information for health care providers working in busy, fast-paced settings."

For more information, please call the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting Press Room at the number listed above. For ordering information, call Jones and Bartlett Publishers at (800) 832-0034.

Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society 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 6,700 health care professionals, the Society has become a pivotal force in shaping attitudes, policies and practices in geriatric medicine.