USE OF A NONTRADITIONAL SITE FOR TRAINING MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES IN GERIATRICS

The rapid growth of the aging population will place increasing demands on the health care system. Recognition of this need has led to the development of curriculum training guidelines for many geriatric disciplines that include an emphasis on the multidisciplinary nature of geriatric care. The Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly model, which provides a nontraditional training site for geriatrics, offers a variety of advantages, including (a) immersion in a holistically oriented multidisciplinary care environment; (b) training in the roles of all professionals in, and their contributions to, multidisciplinary care; (c) awareness of the needs of a major special population, the frail elderly; (d) opportunity for direct involvement in the patients' community; and (e) continuity of care among multiple levels and sites of care. Structure and service are important aspects that confer advantages to trainee experiences in multiple disciplines.