{"id":6730,"date":"2019-05-16T16:32:42","date_gmt":"2019-05-16T20:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/aging\/?p=6730"},"modified":"2019-05-17T09:52:52","modified_gmt":"2019-05-17T13:52:52","slug":"ipe-geriatrics-fellows-lead-the-way-towards-the-ideal-older-adult-outpatient-clinic-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/aging\/ipe-geriatrics-fellows-lead-the-way-towards-the-ideal-older-adult-outpatient-clinic-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"IPE Geriatrics Fellows and “The Ideal Older Adult Outpatient Clinic Visit”"},"content":{"rendered":"

UNC’s 4th cohort of Interprofessional Geriatrics Fellows featured a cardiologist, a doctor of nursing practice, a pharmacist and a dental hygienist learning as a team about best practices of person-centered interprofessional geriatric medicine. On May 6, they wrapped up their 2018-2019 fellowship year with an insightful look at what makes a health care provider’s office “geriatrics friendly.”<\/p>\n

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UNC Geriatrics and the Center for Aging and Health’s 2018-2019 IPE Geriatrics Fellows: Heather Johnson, DNP, Rozanne D’souza, RDH, MS, Jessica Robinson, PharmD, and Beth Rosenberg, MD, EdD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Roxanne D’souza, RDH, MS, Heather Johnson, DNP, Jessica Robinson, PharmD, and Beth Rosenberg, MD, EdD, presented the results of a year-long qualitative study to identify the features of clinic visits that best accommodate needs of older adults. They conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups with patients and clinic staff along with site visits in diverse locations throughout the state.<\/p>\n

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Challenges to Consistent and Effective Care for Older Adults<\/strong><\/p>\n

Among some of the challenges that impact the health and independence of community-dwelling older adults are falls, medication errors and non-adherence to meds, inadequate communication, and inability to access primary care providers.<\/p>\n

Having consistent access to safe and comfortable environments for primary care services is key to older adults’ ability to continue to live in their homes and communities. The Fellows found that amidst a bevvy of guidelines covering all aspects of medical care for older adults, few guidelines exist to delineate a clear framework to ensure easy, safe, and effective primary care outpatient visits.<\/p>\n

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UNC’s IPE Geriatrics Fellows’ End-of-Year Presentation on “The Ideal Older Adult Outpatient Clinic Visit”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Recommendations for Creating Ideal Older Adult Outpatient Clinic Visits <\/strong><\/p>\n

The study recommends finding ways to increase:<\/p>\n