An Interdisciplinary Educational Approach to Assessing the Health Care and Health Educational Needs of the Elderly in a South Carolina Community

This article describes work from an allied health project grant that resulted in an interdisciplinary geriatric educational experience for health professions faculty and students (health information administration, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and health professions education) at an academic health sciences center. The educational experience centered on the process of designing, administering, and analyzing the results of a comprehensive needs assessment for clients attending a senior citizen center. This process enabled faculty and students to integrate education, service, and research activities into their curricula, and to work as an interdisciplinary team in assessing the health care needs of elderly adults in the community.