Week In Review

We couldn't be more excited for #AGS22 in Orlando this May 12-14 (pre-conference day: May 11). Get ready now by submitting your abstract or applying for an award—deadlines for both opportunities are Wed.,  Dec. 1.

• Submit an Abstract. Abstracts are solicited in the following categories: Case Series & Case Studies, Clinical Innovation & Quality Improvement, Clinical Trials, Epidemiology, Ethics & Qualitative Research, Geriatric Bioscience, Geriatric Education, Geriatric Medicine in Other Specialties, Geriatric Syndromes, Health Services & Policy Research, and Neurologic & Behavioral Science. Learn more about submission requirements here, and submit your abstract here.
   
• Apply for an Award. The AGS is seeking nominations for national awards that recognize individuals whose outstanding work in geriatric education, research, and clinical practice contributes to the delivery of high-quality care for older people. Learn more about each award and the application process here.

The AGS Research Committee is seeking Abstract Reviewers willing to share their time and expertise to review abstracts for #AGS22. Consider shaping an integral part of the meeting program by volunteering for the peer review process! 

To become an Abstract Reviewer, you must meet the criteria listed below, submit a biosketch (NIH- style, 4 pages maximum) and complete the short application form here to identify your areas of expertise.

The deadline to submit an application to review abstracts for the AGS 2022 Annual Meeting is Fri., Nov. 26.

Abstract Reviewer Criteria:

• must have first-authored two or more peer-reviewed original manuscripts
• must have advanced degree training (MD, PhD, MPH, PharmD, MS, etc..) or equivalent non-clinical health care degree

Click here to apply

Accepted reviewers will be asked to review approximately 50 abstracts in the categories of their choice. The review process will begin December 6, 2021 and all reviews must be completed by January 7, 2022.  

Questions can be directed to Denise at dmcalpin@americangeriatrics.org. 

AGS Supports Call for Business Community to Implement OSHA’s Vaccination/Testing Requirement
In a joint statement with healthcare organizations and societies, the AGS expressed support for the Occupational, Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) requirement that workers at businesses with over 100 employees be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 at least once a week. As we persist in combatting COVID-19, the AGS continues to recommend that all individuals take precautions to prevent infection, including vaccination. Prevention of and protection from COVID-19 is crucial for the health and safety of our nation, particularly for our vulnerable populations.
 Reminder: Grace Period for Provider Relief Fund Reporting Ends November 30
Providers who still need to complete their reporting requirements for the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Period 1 for payments received between April 10 and June 30, 2020 must complete their reporting requirements by the end of the grace period, Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 11:59pm ET. Non-compliant providers may submit their report at the PRF Reporting Portal by the end of the grace period. After submission of the report, providers should return any unused funds by December 30, 2021. Providers who fail to meet the deadline will be required to return their PRF payments by December 30, 2021. Refer to the Returning Funds Fact Sheet. Learn more about accounting for lost revenues. PRF Reporting Requirements and Auditing can be found here.

In our continued partnership with the Larry A. Green Center and Primary Care Collaborative, we're asking you to complete the next quick, monthly survey in the series designed to better understand response and capacity of U.S. primary care practices to COVID-19.
 
Click here to take the survey

 
Responses are required by Tues., Nov. 16, 11:59pm PT.

We appreciate your continued membership and engagement with the AGS—and we want to hear from you about how we’re doing! Completing our online member survey will help us understand your needs and how we might better serve you. Check your email inbox for your personalized survey link that was sent on October 27. If you cannot find or did not receive the email, please contact membership@americangeriatrics.org. The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete.
 
Survey respondents are eligible for prizes! All survey respondents will be entered into a drawing to win one of the following 3 prizes:

• A free one-year AGS membership
• A full site license to GeriatricsCareOnline.org for one year
• Your choice of a free GRS or GNRS Complete Program 

The survey will close on Mon., Nov. 22. 

AGS leadership starts with you! AGS committee members contribute to our work in so many ways, from leading and serving on subcommittees to helping with projects that advance geriatrics and care for us all as we age.

All committees meet face-to-face once a year at the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting to plan future activities. Additionally, there are virtual meetings held each October to discuss mid-year progress. View a full list of committees here, and log into MyAGSOnline to apply for a committee before our deadline: Wed., Dec. 15.

The AGS is pleased to announce that updates of the AGS Cultural Navigator are underway. Originally adapted from Doorway Thoughts: Cross-Cultural Health Care for Older Adults, the Cultural Navigator addresses issues and concerns and provides relevant details regarding the beliefs, traditions, and customs that would apply to clinical encounters with an older adult from diverse ethnic background. This better equips clinicians for cross-cultural encounters in the health care setting and provide culturally competent care as they care for their older patients.

Seven ethnic backgrounds in the Cultural Navigator have been updated to date, with additional updates to be released throughout the rest of this year and 2022.  The following have been reviewed and updated in the app:

• African American Older Adults
• Arab American Older Adults
• Chinese American Older Adults
• Hispanic American Older Adults
• Japanese American Older Adults
• Korean American Older Adults
• Vietnamese American Older Adults

The Cultural Navigator is available for free through the iGeriatrics app. Download iGeriatrics for your Apple or Android devices and keep an eye out for continued content updates!

AAIM, ABIM, the ABIM Foundation, ACP, and the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation have announced the opening of the 2022 Building Trust through Diversity, Health Care Equity, & Inclusion in Internal Medicine Training grant program.

A total of $400,000 in grants will be available to internal medicine residents and faculty members to support new or existing programs that promote trust and create a more equitable health system by incorporating DEI into the fabric of internal medicine education and training. Programs that advance interprofessional approaches incorporating members from across the care team will be preferred.

Letters of intent are due December 1. Click here to learn more. 
 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is pleased to announce their intent to development the Physical Activity Guidelines Midcourse Report focused on strategies to increase physical activity among older adults. Additional information can be found on health.gov. 

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans provides science-based recommendations on how physical activity can help promote health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. Despite the many benefits of regular physical activity for older adults (fall prevention, reduced risk of and progression of chronic disease, etc.), only 13.9% of adults over age 65 meet the aerobic and muscle strengthening Guidelines (NHIS 2018). Building on the science base from the Physical Activity Guidelines, HHS intends to develop a midcourse report focused on strategies to increase physical activity levels among older adults. The report will seek to:

1. Highlight key components of intervention strategies shown to be effective at increasing physical activity levels among older adults
2. Identify settings where physical activity messaging and encouragement would be relevant to older adults
3. Highlight policy, systems, and environmental interventions that are particularly important for increasing physical activity in this population  
4. Summarize effective strategies to overcome barriers and limitations to implementing these interventions, including (where evidence is available): 
   • Emphasizing equity and reducing disparities in participation, including among individuals with disabilities and individuals of certain racial/ethnic groups
   • Highlighting strategies to bolster mental health, build resilience, or enhance social connectedness

Based on the above outline, HHS requests input on how this midcourse report can best support decision makers, health professionals, educators, and others working to promote or implement physical activity among older adults in a variety of settings. For example, 1) are there other related areas this report should address that would inform and guide your work with this population? and 2) What information or knowledge gaps do you experience in your work that could be supported by a midcourse report?

Comments will be accepted via email to PAGReviews@hhs.gov until 11:59PM E.T. on December 8, 2021.

Aurora Health has partnered with the AGS' Acute Care Special Interest Group and Clinical Practice and Models of Care Committee on their “Geriatric Models of Care Collaborative." These quarterly webinars will feature new research in geriatrics care and recent Models of Care papers published in JAGS and/or unpublished geriatric care models which address practice gaps.
 
The Geriatric Models of Care Collaborative provides the opportunity to learn about different geriatric models of care to address the needs of complex older adults. Geriatricians, nurses, physical therapists, case managers, and social workers across different settings in academic or community hospitals in the United States are encouraged to join. Participate in the next meeting on Wed. Dec. 8th, 3:00pm ET. Register here for the December 8th and the 2022 sessions.

The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements held its 25th Anniversary Scientific Symposium, October 25–26, 2021. Video recordings are available for viewing on demand for those who weren't able to attend the symposium. 
 
Day One: https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=42507
Day Two: https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=42508
 
To help shape future events, please send thoughts and feedback to ODS@nih.gov.

The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) is preparing to launch the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKATM), a new assessment option for maintaining board certification, in 12 specialties (including geriatrics) in 2022.

Physicians who participate in the LKA will receive 30 questions each quarter that can be answered at their own pace from their internet-connected smartphone, laptop or desktop. This new assessment provides immediate feedback if a question was answered correctly or not, along with references and rationales. Beginning in the second year, LKA participants will receive regular score reports to help identify areas for future study. Physicians will earn 0.2 MOC points for each question they answer correctly, up to 24 MOC points per year per certificate. As long as 500 out of 600 questions are opened during the five-year LKA cycle, physicians will have met the LKA Participation Requirement. A summative pass/fail decision is made at the end of the five-year cycle. If a physician doesn’t pass, they can maintain their certification by taking and passing the traditional 10-year MOC exam the following year. 
Enrollment for the LKATM opens on Wed., Dec. 1 and the first quarter’s questions will be delivered Tues., Jan. 4, 2022. Physicians considering the LKA are encouraged to enroll and start engaging early, as unopened questions will expire at the end of each quarter and will count against the 100 allowable unopened questions over 5 years. The first quarter ends March 31, 2022. Learn more about eligibility, the roll out schedule and other features and benefits at www.abim.org/LKA

• The American Medical Association (AMA) is conducting a survey to assess the current landscape and use of telehealth among physicians and other health care practitioners. The goal is to learn more about physicians’ experience with telehealth, including ongoing challenges, benefits, and opportunities.

   

  Survey results will help inform future telehealth research and advocacy, resource development, and continued support for physicians, practices, and health systems. This survey will close on December 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. ET.  It should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

   

  Click here to participate.