Caroline S. Blaum, MD, MS Diane and Arthur Belfer Professor of Geriatrics Director, Division of Geriatric Medicine New York University Langone Medical Center
About the AGS Mission To improve the health, independence and quality of life of all older people Vision Every older American will receive high quality patient-centered care
Organizational Structure American Geriatrics Society 6,000+ multidisciplinary membership organization Leading organization representing professionals specializing in the care of older adults Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs Membership organization for academic program directors Foundation for Health in Aging Public education and outreach
Our Members AGS Membership is Multidisciplinary Physicians over 70% Students 12% Nurses 7% Other disciplines 7%
What is a Geriatrician? A GERIATRICIAN is a doctor who is specially trained to evaluate and manage the unique healthcare needs and treatment preferences of older people. Geriatricians are board-certified internists or family physicians who have additional training and certification in geriatrics. Other healthcare professionals, such as nurses, social workers, pharmacists and physical therapists, can also have advanced training in geriatrics.
AGS State Affiliates AGS state affiliate program has increased the visibility of geriatric medicine throughout the country To date, there are over two dozen established state affiliates who work to provide quality health care to the elderly
AGS: What We Do Our vision and role in improving health care quality
What s the Problem? Focus on single disease, not co-morbidity Evidence-based, but older adults are excluded from studies. Quality measures for each separate disease can be burdensome for patients and caregivers. Some types of measures have not been tested and don t make sense for many patients.
Our Vision for Quality Specific measures are needed to assess and address: Those who are vulnerable and/or frail; The quality of care of older adults; People excluded due to age; and Those who are receiving palliative care near end of life.
Our Vision for Quality (cont d) Measures should: Account for comorbidities; Be constructed so that providers are rewarded for providing quality care; Be evidence-based and clinically relevant, and valid for the unique needs of this population; Account for patient and family preferences and caregiver and patient burden; and Address patient safety, particularly regarding overuse or underuse of health care.
AGS Role in Quality Participation in workgroups, ongoing nominations and comments. AMA-convened Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement (PCPI) Dementia Measures Transitions Measures Geriatrics Measures Episode Groupers NQF Measure Applications Partnership NQF Multi-Morbidity Project NCQA Geriatric Measurement Advisory Panel (GMAP)
AGS: How We Do It Our products and projects surrounding health care quality improvement
About GeriatricsCareOnline.org Online resource for comprehensive geriatrics content
Online Access to AGS Publications Books Doorway Thoughts: Cross-Cultural Health Care for Older Adults Guidelines and Pocket Cards Journals Mobile Apps igeriatrics Teaching Slides Geriatrics Review Syllabus (GRS) Geriatrics Nursing Review Syllabus (GNRS)
AGS Resources to Improve Quality of Care AGS Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults (2012) Includes: Drugs that are potentially inappropriate Drugs prescribed for 14 common conditions, that may interact with other medications Drugs to use with caution Guiding Principles for the Care of Older Adults with Multimorbidity (2012) Presents a step-wise approach around 5 domains relevant to the care of older adults with multimorbidity. Patient Preferences, Interpreting the Evidence, Prognosis, Clinical Feasibility, and Optimizing Therapies and Care Plans
AGS Resources to Improve Quality of Care (cont d) Delirium Clinical Guideline & Best Practice Document (October 2014) The overall goal is to improve clinical care of older adults through prevention and treatment of delirium in the postoperative setting Guidelines for Improving the Care of Older Adults with Diabetes Mellitus: 2013 Update Continues to assist clinicians with tailoring diabetes care to the needs of individual persons with diabetes
AGS Resources to Improve Quality of Care (cont d) Geriatric Emergency Department Guidelines (2013) Provides standardized set of guidelines that can effectively improve the care of the geriatric population and which is feasible to implement in the Emergency Department. Feeding Tubes in Advanced Dementia Position Statement (2014) Includes an extended rationale behind the 2013 recommendations, which reinforce careful hand feeding in place of using feeding tubes.
Questions Visit us at: www.americangeriatrics.org If you would like more information about our products, please visit: www.geriatricscareonline.org or contact: Aimee Cegelka Senior Coordinator, Special Projects & Professional Development acegelka@americangeriatrics.org