Geriatric Assessment Interdisciplinary Team Program (GAIT) An Interprofessional Training Opportunity in Geriatric Care Reba Cornman, MSW, University of Maryland, Baltimore Terri Socha, Western Maryland Area Health Education Center Lisa Widmaier, Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center PROGRAM MISSION AND PROGRAMS SERVED GAIT PROGRAM AGENDA STUDENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO FACILITIES Students are given pre-test on their self evaluation of their interdisciplinary skills Introduction of GAIT –history and objectives Student Introductions – Break into Interdisciplinary Teams Introduction of the Facility Lecture on the Theme of the GAIT Aging Simulation Team Building Exercise Observation of Facility Team Meeting Walking tour of the Facility Matching students to preselected residents/clients of the facility Student Team reviews the resident or client chart; talks with resident/client to perform team assessment; speak with staff; team discussion to formulate assessment and recommendations to facility staff. Team Presentations with Facility Staff Present Debriefing; Post Test on Interdisciplinary Skills and Program Evaluations Student Intervention Recommendation to the Facilities *GAIT has provided geriatric/interprofessional team training programs for health professional programs in the University System of Maryland for the past 19 years. *Each GAIT offers both didactic and clinical experiences for at least three disciplines. GAIT rotations may be either one day or two days long. *The ten GAIT’s per academic year are coordinated by Area Health Education Centers on the Eastern Shore and in Western Maryland Maryland . DEGREE PROGRAMS SERVED FROM 5 UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND CAMPUSES MINIMUM OF THREE DISCIPLINES/GAIT 10-20 STUDENTS PER GAIT Allied Health Management Dental and Dental Hygiene Gerontology Law Medicine Nursing (Undergraduate and Nurse Practitioner) Nutrition Occupational Therapy Pharmacy Physical Therapy Physician Assistant Social Work (BSW and MSW) Speech and Language Therapy Therapeutic Recreation Medications An older adult in an independent living setting was taking medications, including a diuretic, at bedtime.  Potential for a fall risk getting up at night to go to the bathroom, suggestion to take the diuretics in the morning. Oral Health Dental student examined the mouth of a adult day care center participant with many medical problems. Student suggested that it would be very important for the family to address his oral health since there was a strong possibility that a dental infection could further jeopardize his health. Resident Safety An independent resident revealed to the team that the family had taken his car away, but that he was borrowing the car of a neighbor.  Staff (and the family) at the facility was not aware of this situation. A Second Set of Eyes Patient at Adult Day Services was very proud of losing weight recently. Student team could not establish dietary or exercise changes that would account for the weight loss, which was significant.  The student presented a graph of the weight loss over time with a suggestion that there be some medical follow-up about some treatable health related issues that could be causing the weight loss. Caregiver Services Dementia Care End of Life Care Falls Prevention Geriatric Rehabilitation Health and Wellness in Independent Living Home Care Oral Health Care/Periodontal Disease Palliative Care Pain Management Stroke – Prevention, Signs and Symptoms Wound Care THE GAIT LEGACY . GAIT TOPICS (sample) Students gain an important experience in interprofessional practice in a geriatric setting located in a rural community. Faculty are able to provide needed geriatric and interprofessional experiences for their students. Host sites share best practices and gain insight into care provided by students. The rural communities of Maryland host trainees in hope of attracting them to underserved communities following graduation and licensure.   Acute Hospitals Adult Day Care Centers Continuing Care Retirement Communities Dementia Care Facilities Home Care Hospice Long Term Care Facilities Rehabilitation Units Senior Centers HOST FACILITY CATEGORIES SAMPLE OF STUDENT EVALUATION STATEMENTS It was valuable working with other disciplines. I recognized the value of and interdisciplinary team approach to patient care. (February 2014) I learned so much about geriatrics and had a great experience working in an interdisciplinary group. (December 2013) I think every student interested in healthcare should have this team training. (November 2013) Contacts for GAIT and Acknowledgements Reba Cornman, MSW, Director GGEAR Program, University of Maryland Baltimore rcornman@umaryland.edu Terri Socha, GAIT Coordinator, Western Maryland Area Health Education Center tsocha@wmahec.org Lisa Widmaier, GAIT Coordinator, Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center esahecgait@esahec.org 2000 2003 2004 1998 2001 Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 B A