Geriatric Medicine as a Profession

To the Editor I believe that the recent Viewpoint about the failure of geriatric medicine tells only half the story. The problem Dr Gurwitz described is with academic geriatric medicine and the challenges of getting fellowships filled and recruiting physicians into the field, which has been previously reported. However, it is critical to understand that the progress in geriatric care is distinct from the number of geriatricians in this country. For example, the Creating Age-Friendly Health Systems Initiative that is now underway, led by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, is working in 3000 care locations in the US and in 12 other countries. The 4Ms framework —what matters to older patients, mentation, medication, and mobility—resonates with clinicians, regardless of their country’s payment structure, language, or culture. Furthermore, the Geriatric Surgical Verification program led by the American College of Surgeons has developed standards to imp rove surgical care and outcomes for older adults, changing the way people think about approaches to geriatric surgery. The Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation program is also gaining momentum.
Source: JAMA - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research