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Veterans Affairs Geriatric Scholars Program: Enhancing Existing Primary Care Clinician Skills in Caring for Older Veterans
Author(s) -
Kramer B. Josea,
Creekmur Beth,
Howe Judith L.,
Trudeau Scott,
Douglas Joseph R.,
Garner Kimberly,
Bales Connie,
CallawayLane Carol,
Barczi Steven
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.14382
Subject(s) - veterans affairs , medicine , geriatrics , nursing , family medicine , health care , geriatric care , gerontology , medical education , psychiatry , economics , economic growth
The Veterans Affairs Geriatric Scholars Program ( GSP ) is a continuing professional development program to integrate geriatrics into the clinical practices of primary care providers and select associated health professions that support primary care teams. GSP uses a blended program educational format, and the minimal requirements are to attend an intensive course in geriatrics, participate in an interactive workshop on quality improvement ( QI ), and initiate a local QI project to demonstrate application of new knowledge to benefit older veterans. Using a retrospective post/pre survey design, the effect of GSP on clinical practices and behaviors and variation of that effect on clinicians working in rural and nonrural settings were evaluated. Significant improvement was found in the frequency of using evidence‐based brief standardized assessments, clinical decision‐making, and standards of care. Significant subgroup differences were observed in peer‐to‐peer information sharing between rural and nonrural clinicians. Overall, 77% of the sample reported greater job satisfaction after participating in GSP . The program is a successful model for advancing postgraduate education in geriatrics and a model that might be replicated to increase access to quality health care, particularly in rural areas.