Purpose: The purpose of the study was to understand better the clinical collaboration process among primary care physicians (PCPs), case managers (CMs), and geriatricians in integrated models of care. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study with semistructured interviews. A purposive sample of 35 PCPs, 7 CMs, and 4 geriatricians was selected in…

Purpose: To demonstrate the feasibility of the BRIGHTEN Program (Bridging Resources of an Interdisciplinary Geriatric Health Team via Electronic Networking), an interdisciplinary team intervention for assessing and treating older adults for depression in outpatient primary and specialty medical clinics. The BRIGHTEN team collaborates "virtually"…

The Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock is addressing one of the most pressing policy issues facing the United States: how to care for the burgeoning number of older adults. In 2001, the Institute created the Arkansas Aging Initiative, which established seven satellite centers on…

Examined knowledge of geriatric health policies of 154 physicians training in medicine, surgery, and psychiatry. Found a widespread lack of knowledge that could interfere with physicians' ability to use the health care system appropriately for patients' benefit and to function effectively as a gatekeeper to health care utilization. (Author/ABL)

Surveyed a national sample of 416 hospitals to describe the range and frequency of services offered specifically for older adults and to identify characteristics of hospitals associated with particular services. The findings show that hospitals of all types throughout the nation offer a broad array of health and related social services for older…

Survey of sample of members and nine-month study of all members of comprehensive geriatric program at one hospital revealed that surveyed members joined the program for its reasonable cost but continued with it because of good health care. Medical care and no claim forms or bills were two services surveyed members valued and used more. (Author/NB)

The Physician Assistant (PA) is a new health-care professional who is trained to function as a "physician extender." The author's experience with 71 PA students and graduate PA's at the Jewish Institute for Geriatric Care is described. (Author)

Evaluated medical services for elderly members in Social Health Maintenance Organization (SHMO) demonstrations. SHMOs generally failed to offer special geriatric medical services to frail elderly, and coordination of SHMO medical services with special long-term care and case management services offered by SHMOs was limited. (Author/NB)

A literature review explores why misuse of psychotherapeutic drugs is occurring among older noninstitutionalized adults. The roles of the physician, the patient, the pharmaceutical industry, and medical-geriatric journal advertising are discussed. The paper concludes with an exploration of innovative strategies for treatment and prevention.…

Presents a model of outpatient interdisciplinary geriatric care provided at a veteran's hospital. Compares characteristics of patients served in this program with those in community-based geriatrics outpatient clinics described in the literature. (Author/ABB)

Evaluated medical residents and discovered that although they considered detection and treatment of comorbid depression to be important, they knew few of the diagnostic criteria and etiological factors, rarely screened patients for depression and viewed current treatments as only marginally efficacious. Discusses implications for graduate…

Reviewed 273 medical records and interviewed 42 referring physicians to examine effectiveness of geriatric day hospital (GDH). Found that GDH provided intensive outpatient care, geriatric assessment, rehabilitation, and alternative to hospitalization: 21 percent of physician-referred patients would have been hospitalized without GDH, 7 percent…

Reports that the elderly appear most influenced in health attitudes and behaviors by various factors within the setting so those who identify a major source of care tend to be higher utilizers, do less "shopping-around," and exhibit less negative behaviors such as needing care without seeking it. Discussion of the article follows. (Author)

Examined models for predicting treatment decisions of physicians, nurses, and social workers within acute and long-term care settings. Elicited treatment choices to vignettes regarding decisions to allocate scarce medical resource and to withhold treatment from debilitated patient. Primarily medical factors predicted decision to allocate…

Case studies demonstrate that when chronic sexual conflict constitutes a factor in family homeostasis, nursing home placement of the aged ill is a likely event when either there is a shift in family dynamics due to death or illness of a key member or the aged becomes overtly psychiatrically disabled. (Author)