Geriatrics Fellowship, Royal Oak

The Emergency Medicine - Geriatrics Fellowship at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak provides the community with clinicians proficient in emergency medicine specific to the elderly and to research issues relevant to the development of health care of the emergency geriatric population. In addition, we will produce competent educators and teachers of geriatric emergency medicine capable of training residents and of developing geriatric emergency medicine fellowships at other institutions.

Only physicians successfully completing emergency medicine residency training may apply.

Goals and objectives

Clinical component

• develop proficiency in the care of elderly patients
  
• develop skills geared towards a geriatric history and physical
  
• understand the natural physiologic changes and alterations in pharmacokinetics associated with aging
  
• learn to assess psychosocial aspects of elderly patients
  
• learn to interpret laboratory and imaging studies in the elderly
  
• develop an awareness of the changed needs of older people in the emergency department from a service prospective

Precare and aftercare component

• understand the abilities and limitations of resources available to elderly people in the emergency department
• understand the role of nursing homes, hospice, geropsychiatric services and outpatient clinics for elderly patients
• develop pathways to facilitate patient care and placement
• understand medicare, medicaid and other third party payers as they pertain to the elderly
• understand living wills, advanced directives and durable power of attorney as they pertain to emergency care

Administrative component

• obtain a general knowledge of the administration of a nursing home, hospice, continuing care and geriatric inpatient service
  
• participate in the development of an emergency department geriatric service
  
• participate in hospital committees pertinent to elderly issues such as nutrition and home care committees
  
• develop clinical pathways to decrease cost and length of stay as well as improve patient care
• change the emergency department to become more user friendly to the geriatric population

Research component

• required to do at least one original research project or
• develop at least one new program to help advance the care of our elder population

Teaching component

• the fellow will present at least four lectures pertinent to geriatrics to the department of emergency medicine
• provide educational support to the community on geriatric related topics