Geriatric Medicine

 

 

The Geriatric Medicine Fellowship at John Peter Smith Hospital is a one-year interdisciplinary program that uniquely prepares graduates for practice in a variety of settings by providing flexibility in training with an individualized elective curriculum. Open to graduates of both Family Medicine and Internal Medicine residencies, the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship prepares physicians to provide the holistic, multidisciplinary care that older adults need and expect.

The fellows train under current national leaders in Geriatric Medicine in a multitude of sites enabling the fellow to care for the full spectrum of geriatric patients.

Geriatric Medicine Fellows provide team-based interdisciplinary care in a variety of settings while working collaboratively with Family Medicine residents, Advance Practice Professionals and medical students. Longitudinal rotations allow the fellow to follow outpatients, nursing home patients, hospice patients and homebound patients. Quality Improvement projects are also completed during the fellowship which enhances the fellow's administrative skills and the fellowship offers the opportunity for research in an established research program.

Formal lectures are given each week which cover a variety of subjects in Geriatrics. Additionally, Grand Rounds, Journal Club, and Board Reviews are also offered each month.

The flexible elective opportunities have allowed former and current fellows to complete additional certifications in acupuncture, faculty development, and wound care greatly increasing the value of the additional year spent in training. Graduates of the Geriatric Fellowship practice and teach in a variety of settings across the United States.

• Homeless Track:

For Geriatric Fellows who have an interest in the care of the growing elderly homeless population, they may choose a homeless track which provides dedicated homeless educational experiences and clinical rotations. Quality improvement projects may also address issues which are inherent to homelessness.

• Global health track:

The Geriatric population is expanding internationally. Experts in Geriatric care are needed throughout the world. For Geriatric Fellows who have an interest in Global Health, they may choose a Global Health track which offers educational experiences and clinical rotations dedicated to learning how to care for the elderly from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. As part of the track, fellows may provide continuity of care to an elderly refugee population in the Family Health Center, and they may participate in educational conferences and clinical rotations in international settings.

UNIQUE ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM

• Collaborative Educational Relationships:

Since its inception, the JPS Health Network Geriatric Medicine Fellowship has partnered with both educational and community organizations to enhance the fellowship training. The partnerships have resulted in a curriculum in which fellows having the opportunity to care for patients from a wide range of socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds in a variety of settings. The partnerships also provide a diverse faculty for the fellowship caring for patients throughout the full spectrum of geriatric care.

• Inpatient Geriatric Medicine Consult Service:

Fellows work with an interdisciplinary team to provide Geriatric Medicine Consult Services in the Inpatient Setting at JPS Health.  This services works collaboratively with our Geriatric Medicine Trauma Service at JPS.  JPS Health Network is the leader in trauma care for Tarrant County with the only Level I Trauma Center designation. Elderly trauma patients are transported and referred from surrounding areas to JPS to receive care from the interprofessional Geriatric Trauma Service. Trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, Neurosurgeons, Geriatricians, and advanced practice providers together care for elderly patients who have suffered complex injuries. The team is supported by a full range of supportive interdisciplinary staff as well as Palliative Care providers.

• Dedicated Geriatric Clinic (Magnolia):

Magnolia Clinic is an interprofessional geriatric outpatient clinic centrally located within the JPS Health Network. Fellows care for elderly patients in this continuity setting with the support of faculty Geriatricians, social workers, dieticians, clinical pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and case managers. In the Magnolia Clinic, fellows also perform Geriatric consults on patients who are referred for comprehensive evaluations.

• Delirium Certification/Niche:

The Joint Commission has certified JPS Health Network to provide Geriatrics Delirium care, making it one of only two healthcare organizations in the country to earn that designation. The Delirium Protocol standardizes best clinical practices through aligning those practices with a continual process improvement. The Delirium certification positions JPS to be a regional leader in the care for our older adults.
JPS Health Network was awarded NICHE designation in 2015. Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE), is a national effort to make healthcare more accommodating for older adults by changing institutional cultures and educating providers. JPS Health Network was the first public hospital in North Texas committed to this national campaign to elevate the quality of care for older adults by achieving NICHE designation. NICHE allows JPS to work and train our nurses and ancillary staff to provide specialized care for our geriatric patients.

• HRSA GWEP Grant:

UNT Health Science Center's Center for Geriatrics was awarded a $2.55M grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in July 2015 to establish a Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). Unique partnerships with JPS Health Network, Texas Christian University (TCU), and the United Way's Area Agency on Aging of Tarrant County (AAATC) created the Workforce Enhancement for Healthy Aging and Independent Living (WE HAIL) Program to focus on improving health outcomes for older adults by incorporating geriatrics into primary care training while transforming the healthcare system. UNTHSC's Center for Geriatrics was the only GWEP funded program in Texas, and one of only 44 awardees in the nation.