Jodi Friedman, MD

Geriatrics at Nuvance Health

The U.S. geriatric population is growing due to increased life expectancy and the aging of the baby boom generation. There are currently over 46 million adults over the age of 65 and this number is expected to increase to 90 million by the year 2050. The number of new physicians choosing to specialize in geriatrics is not keeping pace with these changes. While there are 7,300 physicians certified in Geriatrics practicing in the US today. the American Geriatric Society calculates that 30,000 will be needed by 2030. Because of this imminent shortage of certified geriatricians, the burden of care for much of the older adult population will fall on the shoulders of primary care providers, particularly those in Family Medicine. The goal of this program is to prepare Nuvance Health Family Medicine residents to be capable and confident in caring for the steadily growing US Geriatric population through a didactic lecture series dedicated to teaching Geriatric principals for primary care.The lecture series created for the FM residents was entitled, the Fundamentals of Geriatrics (FoG). Topics of the curriculum were mapped from learning requirements set forth by the American Board of Family Medicine, and with input from core faculty at the Nuvance Family Medicine Residency program. Seven one-hour lectures were delivered between September 2021 and May 2022. This study reflects the lectures given in February, March, and April 2022. Strategies acquired from the author’s participation in the Teaching Academy were implemented including use of Bloom’s taxonomy, pre-reading, and tactics specific to a virtual or hybrid presentation. Real case studies followed by discussion and questions were used to better engage attendees. Following the lecture, evaluations were given to attendees to assess whether objectives were met. The February and March lectures were in a hybrid (virtual and in-person) format and the April lecture was completely virtual. Six evaluations were received for the February and March lectures (15 and 18 attendees) and four were received for the April lecture (11 attendees). Although these numbers were low, the responses were very positive. Respondents stated that time was well spend and learning objectives were met.The FoG lecture series is the first piece of a larger curriculum designed to address the demands a growing geriatric population will place on family medicine providers. Plans for the future of Geriatrics at Nuvance Health are expanding. The Center for Healthy Aging which began as a single office operating within Northern Dutchess Hospital, is being replicated at four other sites within Nuvance Health. This will require additional fellowship-trained Geriatricians, who are in short supply. The author is currently applying for two Geriatric Fellowship positions at Northern Dutchess Hospital to staff/support this new program. This is an extremely exciting opportunity, and will require significant /additional support including staff, training, and physical space to execute future versions of this plan.