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Geriatric Continuing Education Modules

Continuing Ed
These free, 1-hour modules provide training on geriatric topics and evidence based tools to advance health professional teamwork in the care of older adults. Modules incorporate the expertise of local, regional and national leaders in geriatrics, neurology, pharmacy, physical therapy, nursing, social work and other disciplines.

SPIKES: A Six-Step Protocol for Delivering Bad News

Healthcare providers will potentially deliver bad news to patients many times throughout their careers.  Disclosing bad news is inherently negative and can contribute to stress and anxiety.  When practitioners are uncomfortable giving bad news, they may avoid discussing distressing information or convey unwarranted optimism.   Having a strategy to increase confidence during this patient interaction, has been demonstrated to reduce anxiety and burnout.

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Sexuality, Intimacy and Dementia

There are many misconceptions surrounding the need for intimacy and expressions of sexuality within an aging population in general. A diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's disease does not eliminate the human need for intimacy and sexual expression. This module will address common misconceptions, approaches to appropriately meet the needs of patients with dementia or Alzheimer's disease and explain techniques to family and caregivers.

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Telemedicine: Addressing Barriers for Special Populations

Telehealth covers a wide variety of technology-enabled exchange of health and care management information. Telemedicine is one aspect of telehealth that refers to the delivery of health care between patient and health care provider typically through video conferencing. Telemedicine can increase access to care, increase follow-up care, and reduce health care costs.

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Promoting Medicare Annual Wellness Visits

Promoting proactive approaches to preventive health can make a difference. This module aims to educate providers and clinical staff regarding the components, documentation, and benefits in providing Medicare Annual Wellness Visits to all eligible patients.

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Creating Age-Friendly Health Systems

Dive into the IHI Age-Friendly 4M Framework and learn how to address a persistent unmet need for medical practices that focuses care on the health goals and preferences of older adults.

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High-Risk Medications

Older adult populations are at a higher risk of experiencing an adverse drug event and becoming hospitalized as a result. This module will address the characteristics of medications that are high-risk, and how to mitigate those risks for older adult patients.

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Advance Care Planning

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the face-to-face time a physician or other qualified health care professional spends with a patient, family member, or surrogate to explain and discuss advance directives. Every person should have the opportunity to express their wishes for end-of-life care. Documenting preferences will aid the medical team in respecting the individual's wishes as he or she approaches the end of life.

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Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is treatable, if not preventable. Effective screenings, diagnostic tests, and treatments are available. The disease is responsible for an estimated two million bone breaks per year, yet nearly 84% of older Americans who suffer bone breaks are not tested or treated for osteoporosis. Half of the repeat fractures could be avoided with treatment.

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Providing Home-based Primary Care

An estimated 1.9 million U.S. adults age 65 or older are completely or mostly homebound. Home-based primary care (HBPC) provided by multidisciplinary teams to vulnerable, homebound older adults has been shown to reduce costs, with high rates of patient satisfaction and reduced symptom burden.

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This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U1QHP287350100. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Health Resources and Services Administration or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.