Click on image to read the article.A headline in Tuesday’s New York Times asks a very important question: "As the population ages, where are the geriatricians?"
The story, by Katie Hafner, describes the shortage of geriatrics and gerontologic expertise in our health system today. It features the important and compelling work of our colleague Elizabeth Eckstrom, MD, and her team at Oregon Health and Science University, where we have funded a number of grant projects, notably in geriatric nursing and care models. The story also features comments from several John A. Hartford Foundation Change AGEnts who work every day to share their precious expertise in caring for older adults.
Please take a look and share this piece with your colleagues and others, especially those in health care and academic leadership positions. Feel free to offer a comment in the online version of the story to share your thoughts and suggestions. The more conversation we can create about these issues, the better.
The article explains the uphill challenge we have to recruit more clinicians into our field. It also discusses the critical importance of team care, although this particular point deserves more ink. As we all know, good geriatric care is team care, and good teams don’t just happen. Mobilizing and organizing clinicians and other resources from throughout the system and in the community is critical. This includes medicine, nursing and social work, as well as physical and occupational therapy, nutrition—indeed, all the allied health professions.
Delivering the quality care that older adults need and deserve is going to require a comprehensive and inclusive approach, one that maximizes the skills and expertise of everyone who cares for our rapidly aging population—from clinicians to family caregivers.
We at The John A. Hartford Foundation are proud to be advocates and passionate supporters of this team approach. We will continue to press for critically needed improvements in the care of older adults and the health care providers who can deliver that care.