An evaluation of geriatrics activities within internal medicine subspecialties

Am J Med. 2006 Nov;119(11):995-1000.

An evaluation of geriatrics activities within internal medicine subspecialties.

Sonu IS1, High KP, Clayton CP, Woolard NF, Hazzard WR.

PMID: 17071172

DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2006.07.038

Improving physician care of the elderly has been an ongoing goal of the health care system in response to the aging “baby-boomer” generation in the United States. In 1993, the Institute of Medicine released a report stressing the need for increased training and knowledge in geriatric medicine in both primary care and nonprimary specialties.1 One year later, the John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF) provided funding to the American Geriatrics Society for an initiative entitled “Integrating Geriatrics into the Subspecialties of Internal Medicine.” Led by William R. Hazzard, MD, the initiative aimed to strengthen geriatric education at all levels across every internal medicine subspecialty. Among the projects sponsored by this initiative were 12 geriatric educational retreats (GERs) over a 6-year period.2 The retreats involved leaders in internal medicine subspecialty societies and the disciplines as a whole to draw awareness to geriatric medicine issues.3 GERs were held for the following subspecialties: endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes (summer 1995); cardiology (summer 1996); oncology (winter 1997); rheumatology, infectious diseases, and immunology (summer 1997); pulmonary and critical care medicine (winter 1998); nephrology (summer 1998); gastroenterology (winter 1999); general internal medicine (summer 1999); and neurology and psychiatry (winter 2001).4, 5, 6, 7, 8 There also were GERs involving the Association of Specialty Professors (ASP) in the spring of 2000 and the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine in the summer of 2000. In the summer of 2001, a “reverse GER” was held where geriatricians received the perspectives of internal medicine subspecialists. These retreats concluded with statements from many participants committing themselves and their respective subspecialty organizations to further the development and pursuit of an agenda for care of the elderly within the subspecialty and its related organizations.3 A final retreat in 2002 focused on a review of the prior GERs, advances achieved since the GERs, and discussions regarding future activities.

Proceeding from recommendations at its retreat in 2000, the ASP—the organization of specialty internal medicine divisions at medical schools and community teaching hospitals in the United States and Canada—launched a junior faculty development program directed at the recruitment and initial academic growth of internal medicine subspecialists with an interest in gerontology and geriatrics. One stated goal of this award is that the recipients will become leaders in helping to bridge their disciplines with geriatrics at medical schools and teaching hospitals, and within their professional societies. This program, the ASP T. Franklin Williams Scholars Program, began with funding by JAHF and continues with support from the Atlantic Philanthropies.9, 10

In 2004, the ASP, along with the “Integrating Geriatrics into Subspecialties of Internal Medicine” program leaders, launched a project to assess geriatrics activity and “culture” in internal medicine subspecialty societies. The goal of this survey was to provide an estimate of the impact of the GERs and a thorough and current assessment of the post-GER status of geriatrics in internal medicine subspecialties as expressed through the activities of professional societies.

http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(06)01029-1/fulltext